Bells ring in start of new school year in Kurdistan Region

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Schools across the Kurdistan Region rang their bells and welcomed back students on Tuesday morning as the new academic year began.

The new academic year was inaugurated in Duhok’s Bardarash district by the Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Region Masrour Barzani.

“I congratulate all the dear students on the arrival of the new academic year,” Barzani said in a speech addressing students and teachers.

The premier praised the resilience of the teachers during times of crises and for keeping the Kurdistan Region’s education ongoing during harsh economic situations.

Addressing the Kurdistan Regional Government’s (KRG) plans for the education sector, PM Barzani said that they have built many new schools over the past years and renovated many others with the help of the private sector.

“Education is a process that starts now so you can become people with influence in your country in the future,” he said to students.

Schools across the Kurdistan Region welcomed back over 1.8 million students on Tuesday, according to data obtained by Rudaw from the education ministry.

There are a total of 6,805 schools across the Region, and the ministry has printed around 16 million new school books in preparation for the new school year.

Schools reopened following the coronavirus pandemic in 2021, however low vaccination rates put many obstacles in front of the education process.

This new academic year marks the first complete return to classrooms.