Education to continue online in Turkey at the end of ‘full lockdown’

* Photo: Anadolu Agency (AA)

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The Ministry of National Education has released a written statement regarding face-to-face education that has been suspended in Turkey due to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

The Ministry has announced that distance education will continue at all schools starting from May 17, 2021, the first weekday after the Ramadan Feast and the last day of the 17-day 'full lockdown.'

The three-day Eid al-Fitr or Ramadan Feast, a religious holiday celebrated by Muslims, marking the end of the month-long dawn-to-sunset fasting of Ramadan, starts today (May 13) and will end on May 15.

As for the 'full lockdown' measures, they were first announced by President and ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) Chair Recep Tayyip Erdoğan following a Presidential Cabinet meeting on April 26 amid the surging numbers of COVID-19 cases and deaths. The lockdown entered into effect on April 29 at 7 p.m. and it will remain in force until May 17 at 5 a.m.

Making a statement within this context, without mentioning the reason for this decision, the Ministry of National Education has said:

"On May 17, 2021 Monday, distance education will be held in all public and private, formal and informal institutions of education. The decision regarding the continuation of face-to-face education in public and private, formal and informal institutions of education will be shared with the public following the situation assessment to be made on May 17, 2021."

The Ministry of Education has suspended face-to-face education several times before due to the COVID-19 pandemic. On April 15, 2021, face-to-face education were once again suspended, except for the pre-school educational institutions and the 8th and 12th classes. (NÖ/SD)