Schools in Armenia that have remained closed due to the coronavirus pandemic since March will open their doors to students on September 15, according to Education Minister Arayik Harutiunian.
Harutiunian said on Monday that the issue was discussed by senior government officials coordinating the coronavirus state of emergency earlier that day.
The minister added that vocational training colleges, music and art schools will also reopen on September 15.
All establishments must comply with sanitary and hygienic rules set by the government, Harutiunian stressed.
According to the minister, decisions on universities and a number of other educational institutions will be made within the next week.
“Authorities overseeing the state of emergency, other our colleagues and the ministry have jointly developed detailed procedures and guidelines on all issues, which will be published and shared in the coming days,” Harutiunian said in a Facebook post.
“Dear teachers, parents and students, in the coming weeks we must work together to ensure a successful start and a smooth course of the academic year, taking into account the restrictions caused by the pandemic and excluding media provocations,” the minister added.
All schools, universities and other general education institutions have remained closed since the beginning of the coronavirus epidemic in March when they switched to distance learning to ensure the continuity of the educational process.
The current state of emergency in Armenia is due to end on August 12, but the government plans to extend it for another month.