Turkey to 'start vaccinating teachers who will give face-to-face education'

* Source and photo: Anadolu Agency (AA)

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Minister of National Education Ziya Selçuk held a press conference about Turkey's transition to face-to-face education amid the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Addressing the reporters today (February 2), Minister Selçuk has announced that the teachers who will start giving face-to-face education will be vaccinated against the virus.

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In a statement yesterday evening, ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) Chair and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said that Turkey's schools in villages would begin face-to-face education as of February 15 and the preparations would start to resume in-class education on March 1 for the 8th- and 12th-grade students, primary and special education schools.

Erdoğan also added that in the event of an increase in the number of cases in villages, education could be suspended again.

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Making a statement within this context, Minister of National Education Ziya Selçuk has announced that there are plans to vaccinate the teachers who begin face-to-face education in February.

"We open our village schools at all levels to full-time face-to-face education on February 15. We have also decided to open all independent kindergartens full-time on February 15," the Minister has stated.

Education on certain days of the week

According to the statement, as of March 1, private schools and classes will start to give education to the students with special needs. On the same day, the schools will also reopen for the 8th and 12th class students who are preparing for the high-school and university entrance exams.

"On March 1, our primary schools will open with all classes. Our students will continue their education two days a week," the has said.

As for the postponed exams of high school students, they will take the exams in March in a face-to-face manner, according to the Minister.

It will be decided by parents

Minister Selçuk has also indicated that as was the case in previous months, it would be up to parents and guardians of students to decide whether their children would resume face-to-face education.

'We plan to reopen schools in mid-February'

After partially reopening schools in late September, Turkey resumed its distance learning education system as of November 20 until January 4.

Remote learning has been continuing through the state broadcaster TRT's Education Information Network (EBA) channels and live courses, while all teachers can carry out live lessons through the EBA.

Amid the increasing number of cases and fatalities, the Ministry announced in December that the face-to-face exams in primary, secondary and high schools scheduled for early January would not not be held.

In a recent statement on January 17, Minister of National Education Ziya Selçuk said, "We have made a policy decision on reopening schools as of February 15." The Minister of National Education also noted that the decision on possible scenarios of school reopening would be decided and shared with the public 10 days before the scheduled reopening date. 

About COVID-19 vaccination in Turkey

The second shipment of a second batch of COVID-19 vaccines ordered from China arrived early Friday (January 29) in Turkey.

A total of 10 million doses of the vaccine were imported in the second batch.

Turkey on January 28 started to vaccinate people over 75 years old as part of its countrywide immunization drive for the coronavirus.

According to official ministry figures, Turkey has so far vaccinated more than 2.1 million people, most of them healthcare staff.

Mass vaccinations began in Turkey on January 14, 2021 after the first batch of 3 million doses of the vaccine developed by China's SinoVac Biotech company arrived in Turkey on December 30, 2020. Later, a second consignment of 10 million doses was approved. .

Minister Koca and President and ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) Chair Recep Tayyip Erdogan were among the first ones to be vaccinated in a stated attempt to "boost public confidence in the vaccine."

Since last month, Turkey has been imposing curfews on weekdays and at the weekend as part of its efforts to curb the virus' spread. (AÖ/SD)