"Public schools across Myanmar will begin the new academic year with strict social distancing starting in late July, nearly two months later than usual, an education ministry official said on Thursday. Myanmar’s 40,000 public schools accommodate nearly 9m students and over 400,000 teachers, according to official figures. The outbreak of Covid-19 did not disrupt classes because when the government banned large gatherings in mid-March, exams were already over. Myanmar’s academic year ends in late February and schools are usually closed from March until a new term begins in the first week of June. The government will open high schools first on July 21, and middle schools two weeks later. Primary schools are then set to open a week after that if everything goes smoothly, said Tin Maung Win, deputy director general of the Department of Basic Education. His department was given the school reopening dates by Myanmar’s national anti-Covid-19 committee, led by State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi. And social distancing guidelines for students and teachers will be announced soon, the official said. Some big schools will split students into two groups that will alternate their classes every other week..."