69传媒

A teacher gives a lesson on the first day of school at a cadet lyceum in Kyiv, Ukraine on Sept. 4, 2023.
Federal Photos

PHOTOS: Take a Round-the-World Tour of the Return to School

By Jaclyn Borowski 鈥 September 15, 2023 1 min read
Federal Photos

PHOTOS: Take a Round-the-World Tour of the Return to School

By Jaclyn Borowski 鈥 September 15, 2023 1 min read
  • Save to favorites
  • Print
Email Copy URL

By mid-September, schools across the United States are back in session. Globally, students are back in school buildings as well. Depending on the hemisphere, some are at the beginning of another school year, while others are near the midway point. Here鈥檚 a late-summer peek inside schools around the world.

Estonia

A schoolgirl wearing an Estonian traditional school uniform carries flowers in Tallinn, Estonia, on Sept. 1, 2023. Estonian schools reopen on Sept. 1 after the summer holidays.

Great Britain

Pupils from Corpus Christi Catholic School, Brixton arrive at St Martin's in the Field Girls' School in London on Sept. 5, 2023.

Haiti

A classroom sits empty at the closed National School of Republique des Etats-Unis d'Amerique, a public school in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, on Sept. 11, 2023, on what should be the first day back to school after summer break. According to a few teachers and a parent on site, classes did not resume due to parents' inability to afford tuition, uniforms and school supplies, as well as families being afraid to go out amid gang violence.

India

School children perform a drama at an event on the occasion of Hindu festival Janmashtami in Kolkata, India, on Sept. 6, 2023. Janmashtami celebrates the birthday of Krishna.
Schoolchildren attempt to break the "Dahi handi," an earthen pot filled with curd, as part of celebrations to mark Janmashtami festival at Shivaji Shikshan Sanstha school in Mumbai, India, on Sept. 5, 2023. The festival marks the birth of Hindu god Krishna and the act seeks to reenact the story of Lord Krishna stealing butter during his childhood.

Lithuania

First graders eat ice cream lollies as they wait for the start of their first day in school, an occasion known as the Day of Knowledge, in Vilnius, Lithuania, on Sept. 1, 2023.

Norway

Children take part in a hike offered through the Norwegian Tourism Association in Brekkeskogen, Norway, on Aug. 30, 2023. As many as 11,000 pre-school kids started their day this week hiking routes around kindergartens in Norway. 鈥淲e hope we can inspire the kids to be outdoor children鈥, said Kristin Oftedal of the Norwegian Trekking Association, a volunteer organization which aims to promote outdoor activities. 鈥淲e believe outdoor children are happy children鈥.

Romania

A teacher adjusts the posture of a little boy as children attend a school opening ceremony in Ghergani, Romania on Sept. 11, 2023.
A girl walks with family members to a school opening ceremony in Ghergani, Romania, on Sept. 11, 2023.

Russia

First graders take part in a ceremony marking the start of classes at a school as part of the traditional opening of the school year known as "Day of Knowledge" in St. Petersburg, Russia on Sept. 1, 2023. Many schools across the country reopen on Sept. 1.

Sweden

A child practices handwriting at the Djurgardsskolan elementary school in Stockholm, Sweden on Aug. 31, 2023.
69传媒 read at the Djurgardsskolan elementary school in Stockholm, Sweden on Aug. 31, 2023. As children across Sweden have recently flocked back to school after the summer vacation, many of their teachers are putting a new emphasis on printed books, quiet reading hours, and practicing handwriting as the country's years-long focus on the digitalization of classrooms has come under scrutiny.

Ukraine

Young cadets sing the national anthem during a ceremony on the first day of school at a cadet lyceum in Kyiv, Ukraine on Sept. 4, 2023.
Schoolchildren attend a ceremony for the first day of school in a safe place in an underground subway station, in Kharkiv, Ukraine, on Sept. 1, 2023.
Schoolchildren dance as they attend a ceremony on the first day in school in Kharkiv, Ukraine on Sept. 1, 2023. Ukraine marks Sept. 1 as Knowledge Day, a traditional launch of the academic year.

Events

This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
Special Education Webinar
Don鈥檛 Count Them Out: Dyscalculia Support from PreK-Career
Join Dr. Elliott and Dr. Wall as they empower educators to support students with dyscalculia to envision successful careers and leadership roles.
Content provided by 
This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
Student Well-Being Webinar
Improve School Culture and Engage 69传媒: Archery鈥檚 Critical Role in Education
Changing lives one arrow at a time. Find out why administrators and principals are raving about archery in their schools.
Content provided by 
School Climate & Safety Webinar Engaging Every Student: How to Address Absenteeism and Build Belonging
Gain valuable insights and practical solutions to address absenteeism and build a more welcoming and supportive school environment.

EdWeek Top School Jobs

Teacher Jobs
Search over ten thousand teaching jobs nationwide 鈥 elementary, middle, high school and more.
Principal Jobs
Find hundreds of jobs for principals, assistant principals, and other school leadership roles.
Administrator Jobs
Over a thousand district-level jobs: superintendents, directors, more.
Support Staff Jobs
Search thousands of jobs, from paraprofessionals to counselors and more.

Read Next

Federal Then & Now Why Can't We Leave No Child Left Behind ... Behind?
The law and its contours are stuck in our collective memory. What does that say about how we understand K-12 policy?
6 min read
Collage image of former President G.W. Bush signing NCLB bill.
Liz Yap/Education Week and Canva
Federal What's in Trump's New Executive Orders on Indoctrination and School Choice
The White House has no authority over curriculum, and no ability to unilaterally pull back federal dollars, but Trump is toeing the line.
9 min read
President Donald Trump signs a document in the Oval Office at the White House, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025, in Washington.
President Donald Trump signs a document in the Oval Office at the White House, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025, in Washington.
Evan Vucci/AP
Federal Trump Threatens School Funding Cuts in Effort to End 'Radical Indoctrination'
An executive order from the president marks an effort from the White House to influence what schools teach.
6 min read
President Donald Trump, right, arrives in a classroom at St. Andrew Catholic School in Orlando, Fla., on March 3, 2017.
President Donald Trump visits a classroom at St. Andrew Catholic School in Orlando, Fla., on March 3, 2017. Trump issued an executive order on Jan. 29, 2025, that aims to end what he calls "radical indoctrination" in the nation's schools.
Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel via AP
Federal How the K-12 World Is Reacting to Trump's Pick for the Ed. Dept.'s No. 2 Job
While Linda McMahon brings a business background, Penny Schwinn brings a long resume in education.
8 min read
Tennessee Commissioner of Education Penny Schwinn is greeted by students at Fairmount Elementary in Bristol, Tenn., on Monday morning, June 14, 2021, during her "Accelerating TN Tour 2021." The students at Fairmount are taking part in the Summer S.T.R.E.A.M. Camp.
Penny Schwinn is greeted by students at Fairmount Elementary in Bristol, Tenn., on June 14, 2021, during her tenure as Tennessee's education commissioner. Schwinn's nomination to serve as deputy education secretary in President Donald Trump's second term has drawn praise from across the political spectrum.
David Crigger/Bristol Herald Courier via AP