Thiruvananthapuram: The students in Kerala will return to their schools on Wednesday after a hiatus of two years. The schools in the state were closed in 2020 March due to Covid-19 spread. Even though they were reopened later, students were allowed to enter the school only in batches. This is the first time since the pandemic they will be learning together.

Around 4 lakh students have enrolled in class one this year. Chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan will inaugurate the state-level 'Pravesanolsavam' (welcome festival) at Kazhakkoottam government higher secondary school. Screening of the live event through Kite-Victers channel will be arranged in school. After the inauguration, school-level programmes will start. Teachers, PTAs and school managements have made elaborate arrangements to welcome the students.

In total, 42.9 lakh students will go to schools in the state today. Admissions to Plus One classes have not started yet.

Text books and handloom uniform clothes are handed over to the schools already. As many as 353 new permanent teachers have joined the department.

Meanwhile, police have strengthened surveillance in the surroundings.

General education minister V Sivankutty said that all students and teachers must wear face masks as the risk of Covid-19 has not gone away completely. Students above the age of 12 must take the vaccine as soon as possible, said health minister Veena George. Parents are asked not to send their wards to the school if they or anyone else in the family show any symptoms.