Opening ceremonies took place on Thursday.

At dozens of schools in the areas, including Songhak Senior Secondary School and Kangson Senior Secondary School, students, their parents and teachers were so excited to take part in the opening ceremonies of the schools.

Present at the ceremonies were Vice-Premier Ri Ju O, Choe Tong Myong, department director of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, Kim Sung Du, chairman of the Education Commission, and officials from Pyongyang and provinces, teachers, students and their parents and builders.

Congratulatory speeches were made at the ceremonies.

Amid the ringing of bells, students entered their classrooms.

They paid tribute to the portraits of President Kim Il Sung and leader Kim Jong Il.

Officials, teachers and parents of students watched the first lessons.