Iraq’s school year start moved yet again due to ‘sovereignty’ holiday

BAGHDAD — The school year in federal Iraq will now begin on Sunday, Oct. 4, the Education Ministry said, after the cabinet declared a holiday for state institutions from Sept. 30 to Oct. 3 to mark “Sovereignty Days” and the end of the coalition mission. It is the third change to the date in three weeks.

The year was originally set for Sept. 20. The ministry postponed it to Oct. 11, then on Sept. 17 brought it forward to Oct. 1, saying preparations were complete. Spokesperson Karim al-Sayyid had denied that the delay was connected to security or the Sept. 30 end of the coalition mission, citing examinations, deteriorating school buildings, power cuts, heat and requests from families and staff. A special examination round runs from Sept. 26 to Oct. 10, so schools will still open while it is under way, and the ministry relies on returned textbooks for about 80% of its supplies.

More than 12 million pupils attend school in federal Iraq. Schools in the Kurdistan Region opened on Sept. 20.