‘Face-to-face education cannot resume without vaccination’

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Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) İstanbul MP Oya Ersoy has called on the Ministry of National Education and the Ministry of Health to vaccinate teachers against the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) as it was announced that schools might reopen on February 15 after the semester break.

Oya Ersoy has underlined that since the schools opened on September 21, 2020, 16 education personnel have lost their live due to COVID-19 because necessary measures have not been taken.

The MP has raised concerns that teachers are still not vaccinated against the virus despite these losses of life.

'They cannot get even the first dose by then'

Addressing a Parliamentary question to Minister of Health Fahrettin Koca and Minister of National Education Ziya Selçuk, HDP MP Ersoy has underlined that reopening schools without vaccinating teachers and education personnel threaten public health amid high case numbers:

"Face-to-face education cannot start at schools without vaccination. Not only all teachers and education workers in public institutions, but the ones in private education institutions must be vaccinated as well."

Addressing the Health Ministry, Ersoy has recalled that teachers will be vaccinated at the end of the second phase, according to the Ministry's order of priority in vaccinating citizens against the virus.

"If there were plans to open the schools on February 15, why didn't you vaccinate teachers beforehand? Teachers cannot receive the first dose, let alone the second one, till then," Oya Ersoy has noted.

'Won't it put public health at risk?'

The MP has asked the following questions:

"While there are plans to resume face-to-face education on February 15, why are they at the bottom of the vaccination list? Why were the teachers not included in the vaccination program right after health workers?

"Will teachers and education workers be vaccinated until February 15, when the reopening of schools is scheduled? Will schools start face-to-face education without vaccination?

"Did the Ministry of National Education work collaboratively with Ministry of Health to vaccinate teachers until the schools' reopening date?

"If schools are reopened without vaccination, won't it put the health of teachers, students and public at risk?

"Did the Ministry of Health work collaboratively with Ministry of National Education to vaccinate teachers until the schools' reopening date?"

'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.

Health Minister Fahrettin Koca has confirmed that senior citizens would be vaccinated in line with planning by the Coronavirus Science Board.

According to official ministry figures, Turkey has so far vaccinated more than 1.7 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. (RT/SD)