Distance education system is down, Minister says, ‘It is good news, demand is high’

* Source & photo: Anadolu Agency (AA)

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When millions of students and teachers tried to enter the Education Information Network (EBA) system for their live lessons today (September 22), several of them could not enter the distance education system. "It is too crowded," read the message on their screens.

Addressing the reporters in a publicity meeting for an electronic audio library today, Minister of National Education Ziya Selçuk was also asked a question about the issue. "The overcrowding in the EBA system is, in fact, good news for us because there is an incredible demand," he said:

"There has been an incredible leap in this demand in face-to-face education. There occur pauses and disruptions in large-scale websites of the world. The technical teams are working on it. 

"This infrastructure will be gradually reinforced. We are taking all types of measures to meet this demand and we will continue to do so."

Minister Selçuk also answered a question regarding some private schools that have called on all students in all classes to return to school.

Indicating that they were also informed about the issue, Selçuk said, "It is being followed up. Investigations are to be launched immediately and the related sanctions and fines are to be imposed. This is a decision taken on the national scale. If we have schools that do not abide by this decision, albeit a few of them, the necessary measures will be taken and fines will be given. Do not have any worries about this."

When asked whether parents would also be faced with investigations and sanctions, minister answered that "it was something about the schools and the necessary would be done as per the regulations."

Education in the 'new normal'

Schools were closed in Turkey on March 16, days after the country confirmed its first novel coronavirus (COVID-19) case. The 2019-2020 school year was officially declared over in June 2020.

It was initially announced that schools would reopen on August 31. However, an increase in the number of infections and deaths postponed the reopening to September 21 on a reduced scale.

Now, only kindergarten and first-year students go to school for a few days. They attend classes once between September 21 and 25, and twice from September 28 to October 2, according to the Ministry of Education. And for the remainder of the days, they will follow their curriculum online.

There are five 30-minute classes with 10-minute breaks in between. If any parents are concerned about the safety of their children, attendance in the school will not be mandatory. Meanwhile, education for first-graders and higher continue online through national broadcaster TRT's EBA system. (AÖ/SD)