The Addis Abeba City Administration Education Bureau has extended the commencement of the school year indefinitely, citing the need to fulfill the standards set out by the Safe School Operation Guideline. Previously, the Bureau announced that the school year will begin by November 9, 2020. However, except for students in grade eight and grade 10, the Bureau announced that the date had been pushed further back to comply with the Guideline that was set out by a steering committee overseen by the Prime Minister. The Guideline was put in place to offset the spread of Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) at schools. However, the short-term crash courses for grade eight and grade 12 students are expected to continue as planned, according to a statement from the Bureau. The Ministry of Science & Higher Education has also announced the rescheduling of school opening dates at universities following the latest development in the country after a war outbroke between the federal and Tigray Regional State governments. Schools have been closed across the country since March 16, 2020. Currently, there are close to 26 million students in the country.