First week of in-class education in Turkey: Are measures adequate?

* Anadolu Agency (AA) - File

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In-class education was suspended in Turkey in March 2020 shortly after the first novel coronavirus (COVID-19) case was officially declared by the Ministry of Health. After an interval of nearly two years, schools opened for in-class education earlier this week (September 6).

At a time when the numbers of both COVID-19 cases and deaths are high and millions of students have returned to school, both students and their parents are of the opinion that the measures such as masks, distance, hygiene and ventilation have been inadequate.

In a statement before the schools were opened, the Ministry of National Education announced that all measures would be taken.

However, students and parents say that measures are inadequate, noting that education should continue online instead of risking people's health.

'Risks are making me afraid'

Expressing her concerns about the high number of students in classrooms, the price rises in canteens and the inadequacy of measures taken against the COVID-19 pandemic, a student from the Özkent Akbilek Science High School who prefers not to be named briefly says:

We are very happy that we are back in school; however, no measures have been taken at schools. Making the students go out in the garden during recess and ventilating the classrooms are not adequate measures. Wearing a mask throughout the lesson is difficult for both us and our teachers. We are trying to be careful as much as we can.

"Moreover, there are those who have not been vaccinated. I am sure that there are also unvaccinated people at my school. It really makes me afraid that public health is put at risk in this way."

As for the parents, they say that the entries and exits from schools are done in an uncontrolled manner, the number of students in classrooms is very high and this situation increases the risk of transmission.

Additional expenses for parents

In a statement about the issue, Minister of Education Mahmut Özer said that the decision to have two groups of students before and after noon (dual education system) as well as decisions about the hours when classes and recesses begin and end will be made by the provincial and school administrations by considering the physical capacity and size of schools.

Another complaint voiced by parents in this context is that even though they send their children to public schools, they are faced with expenses that are comparable to the ones at private schools.

The money paid for school busses, uniforms and stationery expenses as well as the money collected by parent-teacher associations to buy cleaning supplies for the schools is reportedly almost as much as the money paid for a student's education at a private school.

Moreover, there are also serious problems with school busses. Considering the risk that schools may be closed again due to the pandemic, several school bus firms and drivers prefer working for factories and carrying workers rather than working for schools and carrying students. (CBT/PT/SD)