SULAIMANI (ESTA) — The Kurdistan Region began the new academic year on Tuesday, with making mask-wearing mandatory as part of efforts to contain coronavirus.
More than 1.8 million students returned to schools to resume in-person class across the Kurdistan Region on Tuesday.
Prime Minister Masrour Barzani rang the bell of the new school year at a primary school in Shaqlawa district, northeast of Erbil.
The premier decided to change the name of the school from Sorka to “Martyr Ibrahim Sabah Nasr”, who died of electrocution at the school last year.
Barzani also called on teachers to continue to receive vaccines, as part of the government’s efforts to contain the coronavirus.
On Monday, the ministry of education issued a number of decisions for the start of the new academic year in the Region, including mask-wearing mandatory.
“Mask wearing is mandatory for administrative staff, teachers, employees and students,” the ministry said.
It also called for more coordination from the related institutions to accelerate vaccination of teachers in the Region.
The Regional government suspended in-person classes in the previous two years and started online learning after a rise in coronavirus infections.
