Schools across the valley organised a Welcome Day on Monday as primary and middle schools across the Kashmir Valley reopened after the long winter vacation.

Students returned to school with great enthusiasm and excitement. The young students looked cheerful and happy to meet their classmates and teachers after the prolonged break. While interacting with some students, they said that they were very happy to see their friends, classmates and teachers again. They added that the first day back at school would remain a memorable moment for them. The first day began with a prayer, followed by the morning assembly.
The assembly started with the Tilawat-e-Qalam Pak, after which some students recited Naat Sharif. A few students also delivered short speeches highlighting the importance of education in life. A sense of joy and renewed energy returned to school campuses after educational institutions resumed classwork after remaining closed for over three months due to the winter break, bringing students back to classrooms and restoring normal academic activity across the region. The reopening of schools brought a sense of joy and relief among students, parents and teachers, as classrooms once again witnessed lively interactions after a prolonged break.
Many students expressed excitement about reuniting with their classmates and resuming regular academic activities. School campuses across the Valley saw renewed energy and activity, with morning assemblies, classroom discussions and co-curricular activities returning to normal. As per the directions of the higher authorities of the Education Department, elaborate arrangements were made to welcome the little champs. Educational institutions were decorated beautifully, creating a cheerful atmosphere that filled students with excitement as they entered their school campuses. Sweets and candies were distributed among kindergarten and primary-level pupils, while dates and other eatables were served to the students of higher classes for breaking their fast at dusk.
After the academic session was reverted to November a year ago, students, teachers, parents, and all other stakeholders expressed immense joy while sending their children back to school following the reopening of institutions after a lengthy winter break. This year, another directive from the Directorate of School Education Kashmir regarding the monitoring of academic activities in classrooms through live video calls appears to be a promising initiative. It is likely to make both teachers and students more accountable and also help authorities suggest remedial measures wherever necessary. The initiative was well received by the teaching staff and the Heads of Institutions, especially considering the importance of educating children from underprivileged sections of society in public schools.
This year, educational institutions across the valley displayed better results at the 10th and 12th levels. As a result, members of civil society, the government administration, and officials of the Education Department joined together in applauding and appreciating the teaching community for their dedication and hard work. Both the District Institutes of Education and Training (DIETs) and the SCERT remained vibrant and active during the winter period, organizing various training programmes for teaching officials and Heads of Institutions. These initiatives aimed at equipping them with the latest teaching methodologies and enhancing their professional skills and efficiency. Now that the new academic session has formally commenced, every teaching official, irrespective of cadre or posting, should strive to give their best in the classroom. Teachers must constantly work to improve their knowledge, teaching skills, and strategies to effectively handle lively classrooms, because a nation is shaped within the four walls of a classroom.
A teacher should always prepare thoroughly before delivering a lecture and regularly review the syllabus and prescribed textbooks assigned to them according to the timetable. Their foremost aim should be to achieve improved and better results at the end of the academic session. By doing so, teachers will not only perform their professional duties with satisfaction and enthusiasm but will also render a great social service. In an era where moral values among youth appear to be diminishing, it has become increasingly important to impart moral lessons both during the morning assembly and in routine classroom activities. Issues such as drug addiction, substance abuse, and the rising crime rate pose serious challenges to society today. These problems must be addressed and uprooted at the earliest; otherwise, they may lead to widespread social devastation. Teachers, being the builders of the nation and key stakeholders in society, should always remain at the forefront in guiding the younger generation. By nurturing responsible citizens and instilling strong moral values, they can help build a society that is crime-free, drug-free, and truly worth living in.

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