Egypt will conclude the academic year for most educational stages at the end of April amid the current spike in coronavirus cases nationwide, a statement by the education ministry read. According to the statement, the ministry will end the school year for kindergarten to high school by the end of the month, with grade nine and grade 12 exams being held on the their original dates. Monthly exams for April for the grades seeing the end of the school year this month will be held on 26-28 April under the previously announced schedules, with summer break beginning after, the statement said. The school year would only continue for junior high students and Thanaweya Amma students, with final year exams held according to announced schedules by the ministry. Students are still allowed to choose between in-school education or distance learning, with the state implementing all preventive measures during the upcoming examinations. The decision does not apply to international schools, which will also have the freedom to choose between in-school education for a maximum of three days a week and distancing learning. Egypt resumed the second term's academic year in late February after extending the mid-year vacation for students by one more month over coronavirus concerns. The government had cancelled in-class education and postponed first-term exams at schools and universities in December 2020 after the country entered the second wave of the pandemic. Sunday's announcement comes amid a surge in coronavirus infections nationwide, with the country reporting 912 new coronavirus cases on Saturday, its highest daily infections toll and the first above 900 since 15 January. This brings the total infection tally to 221,570 since the outbreak began last year, including 12,998 deaths.
