‘Don’t reopen schools without taking necessary pandemic measures’

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Addressing a Parliamentary question to the Ministry of National Education, Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) Van MP Muazzez Orhan has noted that schools should not be reopened without taking the necessary measures against the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).

Referring to the figures announced by the Ministry of Health on August 23, Orhan has raised concerns that the number of cases neared 260 thousand. Emphasizing that the number of fatalities is increasing day by day, she has said:

"In this process when several workers, especially health workers, keep working at risk, it will further increase the risk if one million education personnel and millions of students go out at the same time for face-to-face education."

'Take measures at boarding schools, dining halls'

Orhan has also referred to a recent report released by the Education and Science Laborers' Union (Eğitim-Sen). According to this report entitled "The Current State of Outbreak and Condition of Education Institutions," the measures to be taken before the schools reopen concern not only 18 million students, but the right to health and life of all citizens.

Against this backdrop, Orhan has expressed her concerns as follows:

"The restart of face-to-face education without taking necessary measures will threaten the right to life of millions of people. Face-to-face education must not be restarted without necessary measures to protect millions of students from pandemic in school busses, gardens and buildings."

Within this context, she has specifically focused on boarding schools and dining halls where thousands of students and teachers have to use shared spaces. She has warned that "coronavirus measures need to be taken before the schools reopen so that lives will not be put at risk."

'Will you appoint health workers to schools?'

Accordingly, Muazzez Orhan has briefly asked the following questions:

• Will teachers, students, drivers of school busses and other education laborers be provided with free masks and disinfectant?
• Have the schools been provided with qualified personnel and equipment to take temperature and diagnose symptoms?
• Will teachers, who were called back to schools on August 24, be tested on a weekly basis? Are there enough tests available? Have necessary arrangements been made for teachers to be tested?
• Will COVID-19 be recognized as an occupational disease? Within this scope, will the teachers who test positive for the virus be provided with the necessary social, psychological and economic support?
• Considering that education will be given in classes with a fewer number of students, have the necessary classrooms and new school buildings been prepared accordingly?
• Will health personnel be appointed to schools to ensure the implementation and inspection of related COVID-19 measures? Are there any arrangements for this?
• Have medical rooms and teams been made available in every school? Are there any arrangements made for this?
• Has a budget been allocated for cleaning and disinfection in schools? Have the necessary personnel been employed? Are there enough protective materials prepared for teachers and students?
• Have schools and classrooms been physically prepared for the measures to be taken against the outbreak?
• Have the necessary measures been taken for the transportation of teachers and students to schools?
• Have the content and teaching materials been adapted for the "new normal"? Have the necessary preparations been made to meet the nutritional needs of the students and teachers?

(AÖ/SD)