Iranian students return to school after war closures as attacks killed 270+ children

Breaking: Iranian students resumed classes Wednesday, September 23, 2026, after months of closures due to the Middle East war, which included deadly strikes on schools. One attack on February 28 in Minab killed 120 children, while another strike resulted in 150 fatalities, totaling over 270 child deaths reported.

Parents escorted daughters in mandatory headscarves and uniforms to western Tehran primary schools. Iran's vice president for science and technology, Hossein Afshin, rang a bell at a Minab school to start the term—a duty usually performed by the president. A ceremony featuring President Masoud Pezeshkian was held two days early before his UN General Assembly trip in New York, continuing the tradition for Iran's 16.5 million students resuming classes.

The closures began with the war's outbreak on February 28, disrupting education nationwide. While officials marked the return with traditional bell-ringing, the human cost remains stark: attacks specifically targeting educational infrastructure have devastated communities. This highlights the vulnerability of schooling during conflict—a reality Nigerians understand from local challenges with school closures. What steps should be taken to protect children's right to learn when security threats emerge?

SOURCE: https://www.channelstv.com/2026/09/23/iranian-children-back-to-school-after-war-closures/