Mongolian pupils returned to school today (11 February) after a long winter vacation which had been extended due to an outbreak of flu and the serious air-pollution in the capital Ulaanbaatar. Former Minister of Education, Culture, Science and Sports Ts.Tsogzolmaa issued the decree to extend the winter break for secondary schools to a month-and-a-half, from 25 December to 1 February, following requests from health professionals and ministerial advice. The decision was aimed at reducing the spread of seasonal influenza among the pupils.

Subsequently, the 1^st to 5^th grades in Ulaanbaatar have enjoyed seven weeks of vacation. Furthermore, pupils in eight provinces namely; Arkhangai, Uvurkhangai, Gobi-Altai, Dornogobi, South Gobi (Umnugobi), Selenge, Uvs and Khovd have had a school break of five weeks.