New school year begins in Iraq

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Students and teachers on Monday returned to classes for the start of a new academic year in Iraq as a new wave of the coronavirus threatens the country.

The school year began with Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi ringing the bells at al-Aqeeda secondary school in Baghdad.

“You are our future and Iraq prospers and develops with you,” he said while addressing the students.

Schools in Iraq closed down and reopened a number of times since the start of the coronavirus pandemic.

Efforts have been made to carry on the educational process by “various means”, said the minister of education Ali Hameed al-Dlemi as reported by state media.

The ministry of education has canceled Saturday as a day off, leaving only Friday for the weekend. It has also designated four days for in-person classes and two days for virtual learning.

Over one million students returned to school on Monday, according to INA.

A new wave of coronavirus is threatening Iraq, and the number of cases is expected to hit a spike after the doors to schools reopened.

However, Iraqis are showing noncompliance to preventive health measures including wearing face masks and practicing social distancing.

Iraq reported 1,046 new coronavirus cases and 32 deaths on Sunday. Since the start of the pandemic, it has recorded 2,055,248 cases and 23,170 deaths.