BY ELIZABETH MENGISTU
After close to three months of Kiremt vacation, schools in Ethiopia are reopened yesterday; and students have returned to their schools.
Without exaggeration, yesterday, most of the streets of Addis Ababa have been crowded with students who got dressed with school uniforms, carry backpacks and lunchboxes and chatting and laughing loudly.
Following the end of the cold season and the beginning of the sunny, bright season (Meskerem), school compounds, which have been almost empty for the last two months started welcoming their students warmly. In turn, school premises which were less active for months (comparing to school months) have become full of life and energy by the presence of students, the schools’ community and parents who have been escorting their children to their respective schools.
For Ethiopian students, September (Meskerem) is the most exciting month that students await for it eagerly. The day is an exciting and special time for Ethiopian students for the reason the month is the first day that the new school year begins, students get back to school after longer vacation; they see their friends and teachers again, introduced with new classmates and teachers.
Not only students, but most parents also feel excited, and at the same time trepidation when schools are reopened. Especially, if it is the first experience for their babies to go to school, they feel satisfied and all at once uncomfortable fearing that something bad may happen to their baby.
Just to lessen their stress and to be sure that everything is safe, they visit classrooms, inspect where the lunchboxes are kept, check the toilets and the playground, talk over with teachers and school community.
Of course, this is a normal experience for many parents. For these and other reasons, therefore, yesterday school premises located in Addis Ababa, especially pre-schools, have been stuffed by students, parents and the schools’ community.
Following the commencement of the 2015 E.C academic year, Ministry of Education extended its best wish to students and teachers as well as the educational community the year, 2015, to be a safe and happy academic year.
The Ministry has also urged the communities to discharge their responsibility accordingly by sending all school age children to schools, as it has posted in social media page.
In the capital Addis Ababa, a program that launches the reopening of schools was held in all government and private educational institutions.
Representatives of high government officials also took part in the reopening programs of some schools.
Deputy Mayor of Addis Ababa City Administration, Jantrar Abay had attended the program held at Salo Primary School located in Akaki Kaliti.
According to information gathered from Mayor Office of Addis Ababa, the Deputy Mayor said in the program, this year’s school year in the capital Addis Ababa has started with a new curriculum.
“An educated citizen contributes a lot in solving problems. The challenges that we are facing now will be changed only when a rational generation is created,” Jantrar said.
Abera Biru, Sub City’s Chief Executive Officer on his part said that, at this academic year, more than 118 thousand students have been registered in 230 schools located in the sub-city.
Addis Ababa Education Bureau Head Zelalem Mulatu, who was present in Lemi Kura Sub-City on his part, said that in the 2014 Ethiopian academic year, various activities were undertaken with regard to improving students’ results.
“Our country belongs to this generation. Without this generation, the country cannot continue or exist. Therefore, students should study and work hard,” he added.
As it was learnt, in earlier days, in order to make schools more attractive places for students and to create effective teaching and learning environment, preliminary activities were carried out. In this regard, the renovation and cleaning activities were done, introduction of text books were carried out. Likewise, education conferences were conducted.
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD TUESDAY 20 SEPTEMBER 2022
