Pointing out that the first term of the 2021-2022 school year began on September 6 marked the beginning of full-time face-to-face education after a recess due to pandemic, Minister of National Education Mahmut Özer stated, "We have successfully finalized the first term. We are adamant to continue face-to-face education in all grades in the second term. We took all necessary pandemic measures at schools."

 

Özer said that closing down schools should never be considered as a solution adding that, "All developed countries are making a serious effort to keep their schools open. Türkiye managed to maintain face-to-face education in the first term and we will succeed in doing the same in the second term of the school year."

 

Stressing daily positive Omicron variant case figures in Türkiye are lower than Germany, United Kingdom and France, Özer said these countries continued face-to-face education despite high figures.

 

Özer asked students and teachers to pay maximum attention to follow Covid-19 rules both in and outside schools.

 

Minister Özer stated that Covid-19 rapid antigen kit developed by a vocational high school in Bursa is waiting for approval from the Ministry of Health.

 

"After the approval of the Ministry of Health, we will start using these kits at schools and have a stronger hand in controlling the spread of positive cases," said Özer.  

 

Minister Özer also made comments on the newly passed Teaching Profession Law.

 

"Starting from next week, we will consult with all stakeholders of education in order to make final touches to the Teaching Professional Law," stressed Minister Özer.

 

Özer dwelt upon claims that the commission that replaced exams for teacher candidates was rather "vague" and this commission will introduce an interview system.

 

"It is necessary to clarify this point. The exam for candidate teachers will be replaced. After a minimum one year and maximum two years trial is required for teacher candidates. Teachers will attend 240 hour long professional improvement and orientation training programs. Then, the Assessment Commission will review if the teacher candidates completed this obligatory training program but it will not conduct interviews."

 

Referring to the expert teacher and head teacher concepts defined in the new law, Özer went on to say that: "Currently, approximately 500 thousand teachers in the country have completed 10 years in the profession and qualified to become expert teachers. The regulation passed in 2004 included a limit about capacity. It is not valid anymore. The new law allows all these teachers to become expert teachers, so it prevents them from considering each other as rivals."

 

Answering a question concerning employee personnel rights of teachers working in private schools, Özer stated, " The law covers expert teachers, head teachers, contracted teachers as well as teachers working in private schools. All teachers including the ones working in private schools can attend training programs organized by the Ministry of National Education, enter exams and receive certificates."

 

The Minister also added that the Ministry will continue to appoint new teachers in 2022 in case of a need.