Warm welcome, cool response: Schools reopen with low turnout

As schools across the district reopened today after the long summer break, students' much-anticipated return to classrooms was met with thinner attendance. As per information received from the school staff from Jalandhar city, Nakodar, Lohian and other blocks, it was reported that student turnout could not cross the 50 per cent mark in most schools, with some schools recording even lower figures.

Advertisement

Teachers attributed the lukewarm response to various factors, including typical post-vacation sluggishness and persistent rain in the region. “It’s not unusual for the first few days to see low attendance,” said a teacher from Nakodar. “But the rain definitely played a part today in keeping students at home.”

The "Aao School Chaliye" campaign is also going on to motivate students to return to school on the very first day. The campaign aimed to reframe the school experience as a fun and welcoming environment, with teachers employing creative methods to generate excitement among students. Those students who came today were given warm welcome.

Schools had gone all out in their preparations. Classrooms and corridors were decorated with colourful flowers. Some schools even organised welcome ceremonies for returning students to make their first day memorable . “We wanted students to see returning to school as something exciting, not something to fear,” said a teacher from a government school in Jalandhar.

A video was also getting circulated on social media. It carried the message: “Jeda is din na avega oh sachmuch bahut pachtavega” (The one who misses this day will truly regret it). The slogan quickly caught on among both students and parents.

Despite the modest attendance, the mood among the school staff remained upbeat. Teachers expressed hope that attendance would improve steadily over the coming days as the weather clears and word spreads about the warm welcome awaiting students. “This is just the beginning. More students will return as they hear from their friends about how much effort has been put into making school enjoyable,” a teacher said.