Education continues in 1649 tents in quake-hit regions

 Click to read the article in Turkish

The parliamentary commission for the examination of child abuse met and listened to presentations of ministry officials from the Ministries of Education and Health about the works carried out for the children in the earthquake-hit regions.

4 thousand teachers have been appointed

Deputy Minister of Education Sadri Şensoy informed that they have transferred 5 thousand and 600 televisions to be placed in containers in the region and that they have started education through the TRT EBA television education channel.

The deputy minister also announced that the students in the region will also be participating in the national examinations to be held this year in order to strengthen their motivation. "We have set up courses for preparation for the university and high school entrance exams at about 600 points in tents. We have appointed around 4 thousand teachers," the deputy minister informed.

Accordingly, there were around 3 million and 600 thousand students in the earthquake-hit region. Approximately 217 thousand students have been transferred to schools in other regions. There is a small fraction of students who went to another province but who was not able to start at a new school yet. There are also students who are waiting for their schools to re-open.

"We see that the number of our students increases as we open our schools in tents. We continue education in 1649 tents at the moment. By next week we will have set up tents equivalent to all our schools that have collapsed. The children will continue their education in 50-60-110 square meter tents," Şensoy said.

"There are 7 bin 992 special needs students"

The deputy minister also informed the commission that they are also trying to provide education to special needs students and that the reports for their special education have been extended for one year.

There are 7,992 special needs students in the region and some have been transferred to other provinces while some are continuing their education in special education tents.

Şensoy also informed that the opening of schools was delayed in some provinces and that they will be making up for the delay by organizing summer schools.

Prof. Dr. Onur Burak Dursun, the chairperson of the Autism, Mental Special Needs, and Rare Diseases Department of the Ministry of Health also made a presentation and told the commission that works are being carried out for unattended children in hospitals.
Accordingly, 21 child psychiatrists have been appointed and are serving in the region.

Dursun informed the commission that the ministry also has an online system in order to deliver services online. The children or their families can download an application in order to benefit from the service. "Around 300 children are meeting our child psychiatrists online. We have reached and we are still trying to reach our children with autism and SMA," Dursun added. (AÖ/PE)