New School Year Begins in Many Countries Amid COVID-19 (Photos)

A new school year began in many countries amid the Coronavirus pandemic. Here are countries that started their academic year despite the fatal virus.

France 

Around 12.4 million children and 866,500 teachers head back to school in France for a second school year to start under the spectre of Covid-19.

President Emmanuel Macron said barrier measures must continue to be respected, along with sanitary protocols put in place in schools.

In a video posted on Twitter, Macron also noted that students over 12 years of age will be able to be vaccinated in their schools, if they wish. Secondary schools are being transformed into vaccination centres, and "vaccination outings" will be organised.

China 

On Wednesday, Chinese pupils returned to school with new textbooks peppered with “Xi Jinping thought”, as the Communist party aims to extend his personality cult to children as young as seven and raise a new generation of patriots.

Russia 

The new academic year in Russia started in full-time format. On his part, President Vladimir Putin congratulated the students on Knowledge Day, comparing this holiday to the New Year.

About 17 million students went to Russian schools, according to Minister of Education Sergei Kravtsov. He stressed that educational institutions continue to take measures against the spread of coronavirus.

Jordan 

More than 2 million students resumed on Wednesday in-school learning after a months-long hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Secretary-General of the Ministry of Education Najwa Qubeilat said a plan would be implemented in the first two days of the new school year, entailing an odd-even number system for different grades students returning to the campus.

On the other hand, Egypt has announced that new school year 2021/2022, for public, private, and foreign language schools, is going to start on October 9.

“The academic year begins on Saturday, October 9, 2021, and ends on Thursday, June 16, 2022,” Ministry of Education said in a statement. “The school year will last for about 34 weeks.”