MUSCAT: The Ministry of Education has decided to postpone the new academic year 2020-2021 until Sunday, August 30 for both public and private schools in the wake of coronavirus outbreak.

In a decision issued by Dr. Madiha bint Ahmed bin Nassir Al Shaibaniyah, Minister of Education (MoE) said the work of “educational supervisors and school administration supervisors in educational directorates in the governorates, the General Directorate of Private Schools, members of the administrative and teaching staff, and the jobs associated with them in government schools, special education schools, and private schools that do not apply the special school calendar system have been postponed to Sunday, August 30,”

Early this week, more than 50,000 people took part in an online survey organised by the Ministry of Education to find a suitable alternative for classroom education. Since March this year, schools across the country have been shut due to the coronavirus pandemic.