Continuing his work in the region with his team since the first day of the earthquake, Minister of National Education Mahmut Özer was the guest of the joint live broadcast of CNN Türk and Kanal D in Malatya. Regarding latest developments, Özer stated that in order to normalize Türkiye, it is necessary to normalize education. He said that they will start education at all levels on February 20 in 71 provinces that were not affected by the earthquake.

 

Speaking about the recent situation in 10 provinces affected by the earthquake, Minister Özer stated that 24 out of 20 thousand 868 buildings affiliated to the Ministry in these have been destroyed and 83 of them heavily damaged. Announcing that they will take all the damage assessment reports out for school buildings together with the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change this week, Özer noted that they are planning to complete this process by the end of February. Özer stated that with this regard they have suspended education until March in 10 quake-hit provinces by underlining that they may not be able to start education on March 1.

 

Emphasizing that as the Ministry, they aim to finalize all studies and plans as if they will start education on March 1, Özer said that they aim to fulfill all deficiencies by March 1 in the light of district and school-based evaluations and make statements regarding the continuation of education and training process in 10 provinces before March 1.

 

Stating that the damage rate of the buildings affiliated to the Ministry is quite low compared to the whole picture, Minister Özer emphasized that the education will not be started until the damage assessment report of all schools is received. Emphasizing that they aim to reunite students with education in a safe environment, Minister Özer stated that they will complete all these processes within a week and announce the decisions.

 

Noting that they do not request compulsory attendance at all education levels in the second semester in 10 provinces, Özer announced that 2 thousand students had transferred to other 71 cities. Stating that this number will increase gradually this week, he said that the private education institutions have increased the scholarship capacity for students from 3 percent to 10 percent, Özer underlined that the new 7 percent capacity will be used for students transferred from 10 quake-hit provinces. Announcing that they will appoint new teachers if it is required, Özer said that they will start the assignment processes related to excuses and health assignments of teachers working in these 10 regions this week. Özer announced that they will start to assign teachers quickly in order to ensure the continuation of education and training and to meet the need for teachers.

 

Explaining that studies are being carried out by taking the situation of teachers whose families are in the earthquake zone or have lost their lives due to the earthquake into consideration, Özer stressed that these teachers are considered as they are on administrative leave and that all kinds of psychosocial support are provided for them. Özer underlined that the Ministry stands by its teachers with all its resources.

 

Expressing that a schedule has not been announced for the LGS as of yet, Minister Özer stated that the exam schedule will be determined in line with the improvement of the conditions. Reminding that he made a statement about the YGS and YKS exams, Özer said that LGS exams consist only of the first semester subjects of the 8th grade curriculum. Özer said that they have excluded the second semester subjects of 12th grade from YKS.

 

Referring to the psychological support services provided for the children affected by the earthquake, Minister Özer said that the Ministry is on the field with vocational high schools, public education centers, advanced technical schools for girls and volunteer teachers since February 6. He stressed that they have declared an additional suspension to maintain continuity of these support mechanisms.

 

Stating that the Ministry of National Education currently provides approximately 2 million hot meals to citizens in 10 provinces and produces 1 million 600 thousand loaves of bread, Özer stated that the MEB AKUB team has participated in search and rescue efforts in 10 provinces with approximately 5 thousand teachers. Sharing that approximately 4 thousand psychological counselors and guidance teachers also provide psychological support to citizens, students and teachers in the field, Özer stated that they have established 187 centers for psychosocial support in the region where guidance teachers and psychological counselors provide psychological support to children through games and activities. Announcing that they will build them in tent centers in 10 provinces as well, Özer stated that they have created an atmosphere that allows children to overcome this trauma as quickly as possible. Thanking all the teachers who went to the field without any instruction and worked with their heart from the first day of the earthquake, Özer stated that they produced every product needed in vocational high schools, especially stoves, sleeping bags and tents. Özer thanked all the teachers and students who supported the process, and underlined that the Ministry of National Education would continue to stand by its citizens with all its resources.