Festive Atmosphere Prevails as AP Schools Reopen Today

Kurnool: With schools set to reopen from Friday, June 12, a festive atmosphere is sweeping across Andhra Pradesh. Parents and students are gearing up for the new academic year with enthusiasm and anticipation.

Parents are busy purchasing essentials, such as uniforms, bags, shoes, and books, while children are eagerly looking forward to returning to classrooms after the holidays.

Both government and private schools are witnessing heightened activity ahead of the reopening of schools on Friday.

According to official statistics, Kurnool district has emerged as the top district in the state in terms of student strength, with a total of 2.55 lakh students. The district had been given the target of enrolling 25,000 new students this year, of which nearly 18,000 admissions have been completed so far, which is 74 per cent of the target.

“We have focused particularly on identifying children from migrant families and those in anganwadi centres. We have ensured their admissions into nearby schools,” said Kurnool district education officer (DEO) L. Srinivasulu.

Officials say despite high migration trends in Rayalaseema, Kurnool, Nandyal, Kadapa, and Anantapur districts have performed well, crossing the 70 per cent enrolment mark. This achievement is attributed to intensified awareness campaigns, community engagement, and door-to-door surveys conducted by the education department.

A senior official from the primary education department said, “The state had set an ambitious target of enrolling 3.22 lakh students this academic year. So far, about 2.18 lakh admissions have been completed. Efforts are going on to further improve the numbers before the academic session stabilises.”

Kadapa DEO S. Shamsuddin confirmed that all necessary arrangements have been completed for the smooth reopening of schools. “We have ensured that infrastructure, teaching staff, and basic amenities are in place, so that students can begin the academic year without any inconvenience,” he said.

Across Andhra Pradesh, there are a total of 43,626 schools catering to nearly 32 lakh students. While Class 10 students have passed out of schools, around 2.18 lakh new students are expected to join Class 1 this year.

Kurnool district collector Dr. A. Siri said, “Kurnool has recorded the highest enrolment in the state. The district currently has 1,423 schools with a student strength of 2.55 lakh. We are committed to further improving enrolment and reducing dropouts.”

In terms of infrastructure, Srikakulam district stands first with 2,612 schools, indicating strong school network coverage. On the other hand, Visakhapatnam district has the lowest number of schools at 577.

In terms of student enrolment, Polavaram district ranks last with around 49,000 students.

Education officials have expressed confidence that enrolment figures will improve further in the coming weeks as schools reopen and initiatives to enrol new students continue at the grassroots level.