Distance education in Yüksekova amid hardships

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We can say that the most important problem of Turkey is the problem of education, which directly or indirectly affects 83 million people across the country. While the number of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) cases is gradually increasing, students and children want to learn whether there are any changes as to the dates when the schools will reopen.

Moreover, an overarching policy can be formulated to manage the pandemic and, based on this policy, the reopening of schools can be planned depending on the forecasts about the course of the outbreak and if the number of cases or the mortality rate drops to certain levels.

Otherwise, in the event that we cannot reach these targets, we will have to postpone the reopening of schools over and over again, which will make people all the more confused in the end. 

A clear explanation is necessary

Schools reopen for first graders and preschoolers on September 21. It is not yet certain when and how students will continue education in upcoming weeks; this uncertainty is the case for both the students in this group and the ones who are not, such as the final year students.

Minister of National Education Ziya Selçuk is expected to explain how face-to-face and distance education will work, how students can access education activities in the most proper way possible and how shortcomings of infrastructure will be eliminated in this process.

When we look at [Turkey's Kurdish-majority southeastern province of] Hakkari, we see that the related provincial and district Directorates of National Education have been working really hard for this. However, there are also some issues that are beyond them.

So much so that the telecommunication infrastructure, which broke down after the destruction that took place especially in Yüksekova in 2016, is still not active in most parts of the province and its districts.

In neighborhoods where our citizens still live in the destructed region, the telecommunication company has still not been able to establish sufficient infrastructure and the mobile communication companies obviously still cannot give adequate service in central Yüksekova and its villages.

Students do not have tablets, computers or smartphones, thanks to which they can get distance education. Let alone having them, they do not have the infrastructure to access the Internet even if they have them.

Power cuts are very frequent

We also know that there are several people who cannot follow distance education on the EBA TV channel by using a satellite receiver at their homes. We hear the stories of people who knock doors over doors to ask for a television, tablet or smartphone.

There are, of course, also some people who have the means to access/reach distance education. I do not know what their percentage is, but when we look at the general picture in the field, we can see that the vast majority still do not have the means to access it.

We will see the effects of this; maybe not now, but in time...

Even when everything is in place and available, there is yet another open wound of Yüksekova. I am talking about this because it is related to the issue. This open wound is the irregular power cuts in the districts.

Unfortunately, saying that students can properly benefit from distance education amid these two problems (the telecommunication infrastructure and power cuts) will be nothing but playing make-believe.

The Ministry of National Education, through the directorate of national education and sub-governor's office, must also develop a solution for our children who do not have the means.

Minister of National Education Ziya Selçuk has not made a statement about the children who are deprived of the distance education system.

The government or the local administration must also develop a solution and the telecommunication and other mobile communication companies must eliminate their own technical deficiencies.

Apart from this, the Internet prices must be cut considerably or a vast part of it must be free. Campaigns for affordable Internet must also be launched for the students who will get distance education.

Before the winter comes

When we also consider that there might be students who have never come to know computers, do not know how to use the Internet, do not have satellite devices, televisions, tablets or computers in their houses, it will be seen that this burden will be a heavy one.

As the winter is approaching and considering that there will be cases of seasonal diseases such as influenza and common cold in this process, the reopening of schools does not seem very likely.

In that sense, we are faced with the reality that our children will have to receive distance education in the near future.

Before the severe winter conditions come upon Yüksekova district, these needs for the necessary infrastructure, devices and means as well as materials of communication need to be provided as soon as possible so that students can access distance education.

It is also required by the principle of equality of opportunity in education. (NÇ/APA/SD)

About Necip Çapraz

Journalist, a columnist for Yüksekova Haber in Hakkari.