Millions of Iraqi students begin new academic year a month later than scheduled
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Millions of Iraqi students have begun the new academic year a month later than scheduled because thousands of families uprooted from restive areas are sheltering in school buildings.
Education Ministry spokeswoman Salama al-Hassan said Wednesday that students in areas controlled by Sunni militants in western and northern Iraq are not obliged to attend classes, but are allowed to take final exams.
Al-Hassan told The Associated Press that students who cannot attend school can watch lectures on a state-run educational TV channel. She added that only a few schools are still occupied by families and that authorities have set up trailers to be used as classrooms.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The Islamic State extremist group overran much of northern and western Iraq -- including the second largest city Mosul -- earlier this year.