The Undersecretary of the Ministry of Education, Adel Juma, confirmed Tuesday that the seventh of October will be the first day for the new academic year 2018 - 2019, according to the decision of the Ministry of Education.

The undersecretary's statement came in response to the Teachers' Union announcement to postpone the new school year until Sunday, November 4, 2018.

On Sunday, the Ministry of Education announced the dates for the beginning of the school year and the exams for the basic and secondary education stage.

The Teachers' Union said earlier that the new school year would be postponed until what they called “the rights of teachers are granted.”

Among the requested rights are 100% salary increase and health insurance for all teachers across the country, which the ministry says are impossible to meet.