COVID-19 in Turkey: Face-to-face education to resume partially

* Photo: Anadolu Agency (AA)

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Turkey's Ministry of National Education released a statement yesterday (January 20) and announced that face-to-face education at private coaching centers would start across the country as of late January.

As reported by the state-run Anadolu Agency (AA), according to the statement of the Education Ministry, the 8th and 12th grade students as well as high school graduates will be able to attend face-to-face classes at private coaching centers that prepare students for high school and university entrance exams starting from January 22, 2021.

Amid the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, a seating plan for students and course attendees in classrooms will be made, and the maximum number of students in a class will be determined in line with physical distance requirements, the statement indicated further.

The statement also added that the use of masks will be mandatory and social distancing protocols must be strictly followed in the classrooms.

Students of state-run schools, who wish to attend the courses at coaching centers and need accommodation, will be accommodated at school dormitories that will be determined by governor's offices.

Those of private schools will be accommodated at private dormitories and hostels, the statement added.

'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.

According to the latest data of the Health Ministry, 159 people have died of COVID-19 in the last 24 hours, bringing the death toll to 24,487.

Turkey's Health Minister Fahrettin Koca said yesterday that COVID-19 vaccinations for people over the age 85 will start today (January 21).

In the first stage of the vaccination program, over one million citizens, including over 980,000 health care professionals, the elderly and personnel at nursing homes, have been vaccinated so far. (RT/SD)