KRG issues new Coronavirus directives for schools following surge in infections

Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq (GOV.KRD) - The Kurdistan Regional Government’s High-level Committee on Coronavirus met on Sunday to consider additional health and safety guidelines for the new school year following a surge in infections and related fatalities in the Kurdistan Region.

The Ministers of Health, Interior, Education, and Higher Education presented detailed information tracking outbreaks in schools and universities since the start of the new academic year.

After review, the Committee issued the following directives:

1. State and private schools for first, second, and twelfth graders will close until December 1, after which there will be a review of health conditions;

2. Twelfth-graders will have access to online classes until schools reopen;

3. Private and state schools will continue running online classes for students from grade three to eleven;

4. Group visits to schools will be suspended until December 1, after which there will be a review of health conditions;

5. Schools in villages or remote areas with limited internet access and limited number of students, will be shut down for all grades;

6. Private nursery schools will close until December 1, after which there will be a review of health conditions;

7. State and private institutes run by the Ministry of Education will close until December 1, after which there will be a review of health conditions;

8. The Ministry of Education will make use of official holidays, if necessary, to reorganise its calendar and exam schedules;

9. Universities and institutes will continue implementing “blended learning” systems (a mix of in-person and online classes) for scientific departments and medical schools until December 1;

10. Universities and institutes will shift their focus to online classes in the “blended learning” system for humanities studies. Departments that require laboratory work, will continue to hold classes on campus;

11. Provincial Operation Rooms will be tasked with overseeing public spaces, including places of worship, requiring them to comply with health guidelines;

12. The Committee reiterated that the directives issued by the Ministry of Interior on October 24 remain in effect.

These decisions will be effective until December 1.