Schools, Universities to be Temporarily Closed over Coronavirus Concerns

* Photos: Anadolu Agency (AA)

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Chaired by President and ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) Chair Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, a meeting on new coronavirus type (Covid-19) was held at the Presidency in Ankara yesterday evening (March 12).

While the meeting was attended by all ministers, Vice President, Presidential Spokesperson, Presidency Communications Director and Director of Religious Affairs, Presidential Spokesperson İbrahim Kalın addressed the reporters following their five-hour meeting.

Kalın shared the following measures with the public:

"Primary, secondary and high schools will be closed for a week. That being the case, the mid-term break will start one week earlier.

"For one week as of March 23, students will resume their education from home through internet and television channels. The Ministry of National Education has prepared an education infrastructure for that.

"This decision has been taken with the aim of avoiding any waste of time in education and a failure in combat against the epidemic.

Universities to be closed for three weeks

"Our universities will also be closed three weeks as of March 16.

"There is no planning as to the leave of absence of the academic personnel at universities. The Council of Higher Education (YÖK) will make the planning, some universities can decide themselves. As for our teachers, the Ministry of National Education will decide for them.

"We recommend our private education institutions to adapt themselves to the schedule regarding schools and universities.

Sports events to be held without fans

"It has also been decided that sports events take place without fans till the end of April.

"A decree has been prepared on the foreign visits of public officers. Except for exceptional circumstances, public officers will be required to get a permission for their international travels.

"We also recommend that our citizens postpone their international travels for a while. It is of considerable importance that our citizens coming from abroad to Turkey have themselves checked and isolate themselves for 14 days.

"Kindergartens and daycare centers were no not brought to agenda. Here, parents will decide themselves. Rather than a relevant arrangement, we recommend that they take such a step by taking initiative.

"We also postpone the foreign visits of our President for a while."

Academic, administrative personnel excepted

Shortly after Kalın announced that universities would be closed for three weeks as of March 16, the YÖK has made a statement about the issue.

The Council has announced that the three-week break will not apply to the academic and administrative personnel of universities.

The YÖK has briefly stated the following:

"Administrative and academic personnel will not have a recess. This issue will be considered depending on the course of coronavirus in Turkey.

"During the three-week holiday starting from March 16, no online or remote education will be provided.

"Events such as panels, exhibitions, meetings, workshops or congress will also not take place during this recess at universities."

Private schools, ministry's kindergartens to be closed

Minister of National Education Ziya Selçuk has also spoken about the measures announced by the Presidential Spokesperson.

Indicating that the weekly school timetables will be restructured from March 23 to 30 and remote education will be given to primary, secondary and high schools students via internet and televisions channels, he has stressed that the necessary infrastructure has been prepared by the Ministry.

The Minister has also announced that the private schools and kindergartens affiliated with the Ministry will also be closed within the indicated time period. (EKN/SD)