Kaloor school awaits return of its migrant students

KOCHI: Even as schools across the state gear up for Praveshanotsavam on Thursday, the headmistress and teachers of Union LPS, Thrikkanarvattom in Kaloor too are decking up the old school building though they are unsure how many of the 78 students will turn up on June 1 as over 90% of students are the children of migrant workers.

Most of them went home during summer vacations. A majority of them are Muslims and they had informed HM Sumaiyya Saidu that they will return after Bakrid, which falls on June 29. But, the school is planning a reopening with available students and it will give remedial classes to those who are absent.

The government-aided school was on the verge of closure due to the lack of students a few years ago. It was revived by the efforts of six teachers, including Saidu, when more students from migrant families started to enrol.

Now, the school specializes in educating migrant students and all teachers have learnt Hindi to make teaching effective. “We hope at least half of them will turn up on Thursday. Our people have a misconception that migrant students don’t study well but there are several brilliant students among them and we just have to nurture them. We are experts in handling them now,” Saidu said.