KARACHI, Aug 1: Schools and colleges in the city reopened on Monday after a summer vacation of two months, with the commencement of new academic year as well. The attendance of students on the first day was estimated 60-70 per cent in the government and private schools, while in the colleges it remained on average 50-60 per cent.

A senior teacher said that school students normally preferred to stay at home on the first day after vacations as they believed that others would also not be coming. It is said that attendance in the government schools, like past, would attain a peak only in the mid of August. Some of the private schools, would be reopening till August 5, said sources in the educational circle.

Any serious education would be possible only after a couple of days when the students would be in possession of a complete range of textbooks. Some of the students complained that not all the textbooks were available in the market.

In the case of government primary school students, it was learnt that many of the students remained without books as they could not be delivered free distribution books from the educational officers at the district levels.

The free textbooks for primary school students were received by the ADOs only two weeks back, while it would take another one week at the maximum for the distribution of books to all deserving, said EDO (Schools), Sikandar Lakhair, adding that the process of distribution had, however, started on Monday.

About the attendance of teachers, Wahab Abbasi, DO Secondary Education, said that he visited some of the schools in Malir, Landhi and Korangi and could say that it was not up to the mark, while head masters were available. .

On the college side, attendance was considerably low as second year students are still in the process of finalizing their admissions. The degree class attendance will increase only when the local body elections are over, added the source.

Meanwhile, the admission process for first year classes in colleges and higher secondary schools, which commenced on Monday, would be completed in two phases, said the EDO (higher education).

Talking to Dawn, Prof Mohammad Rais Alvi, the EDO of the Karachi district government, said that students aspiring admissions to different faculties in colleges rushed to the designated HBL branches to purchase admission forms and brochures.

However, he clarified that since production of SSC mark sheet was mandatory for getting admission kit, at present only the successful students of SSC general group exams and left over of the last year and successful candidates of other boards were being entertained by banks. He advised the Science group students to report to the banks only after acquiring the SSC mark sheets. He said that if the Science group, students would not be able to get the mark sheets in time and submit their forms to bank till August 10, the date fixed for submission of admission forms in their cases would be extended further.