URUMQI, March 13 (Xinhua) -- Primary schools, middle schools and secondary vocational schools in northwestern China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region will start the postponed new semester on March 23, according to a statement issued by the regional education department on Friday.

The statement said students from graduation classes, who need to take exams for the next phase of their education, are allowed to return to school one week earlier.

All the schools are required to roll out their own plans to prevent and control the epidemic according to their specific conditions and ensure a safe campus environment for students.