Kurdistan Region education minister says new academic year calendar to be set at cabinet meeting

ERBIL, Iraq — The official start date of the 2026–2027 academic year in the Kurdistan Region will be decided at a meeting of the regional Council of Ministers scheduled for September 8–10, Education Minister Ali Hema Said said. He added that the cabinet would review the draft calendar for the new school year and finalize the opening date during the session. According to the minister, the draft calendar has been prepared with built-in flexibility to allow earlier or later adjustments in the event of overlap with holidays or official occasions. The Education Ministry has drawn up a broader preparation plan covering curriculum revisions, printing of textbooks, teacher training programs and logistical arrangements for classrooms. The ministry said the aim is to ensure the calendar is complete and workable and that education processes run smoothly. Administrative, technical and educational steps to receive students are expected to be approved at the meeting before the final calendar is announced.