Minister of National Education Ziya Selçuk said during his speech at the opening of the online "Semester Professional Work Schedule" that teachers have displayed a great effort in order to teach students and establish more active and productive communication with parents during the new type of coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic.

 

Selçuk stressed that teachers have developed their digital competence and use digital devices more actively adding that the Ministry has successfully managed the pandemic process when compared to many other countries and teachers have fulfilled their responsibility.

 

Noting that the new education terms will begin on February 15 Monday, Selçuk expressed his wish to see the end of the pandemic and open face to face education for all grade students.

 

Minister Selçuk stressed that the Ministry has the responsibility to make the most "rational" decisions according to the course of pandemic.

 

Noting that the Ministry has been working in an effort to open face to face education in the safest conditions by calculating all opportunities and taking all kinds of measures for the protection of the health of the teachers and students, Selçuk said, "Our principle and ultimate goal is to open face to face education under the light of our experiences. It seems unlikely that we will start full time face to face education for all students in the short run due to the course of the pandemic. As a result, we made plans by considering health risks, pedagogical development, exams and internship obligations of students. We will make the final decision about the most reliable and useful model according to the course of pandemic. We will share our roadmap soon."

Selçuk said that approximately 3 million live lessons are available in EBA which is the most visited education web site of the world adding that, "Our teachers reached millions of our students through EBA and TV channels and became an example for the entire world."

 

Noting that their goal is to increase the quality and quantity of lessons, Selçuk went on to say that, "During this process, we have reinforced our infrastructure and increased our access capacity to the highest level. We have distributed more than 500 thousand tablet computers and internet packages to students in order to provide equal opportunity in education. We have established approximately 15 thousand support centers and 162 mobile support points. We have provided access for students in rural areas to the education platforms. Moreover, we have reached students through three different television channels and prepared 10 thousand lesson videos in the last 10 months."

 

"Distance education will continue to play an important role in the education system even after the end of the pandemic and the beginning of face to face education," said Selçuk adding that the Ministry has opened new online professional improvement training programs within this framework.

 

Noting that teachers have been working for their personal and professional improvement, Selçuk stated, "1 million 373 thousand and 454 teachers attended professional improvement training programs. Distance education also provided advantages. Higher number of teachers had the opportunity to participate in different training programs and received internationally recognized certificates. 400 thousand teachers applied to the 40 professional improvement training opened during the semester and between February 8 and 12. Our training programs are prepared in line with the requirements of our era, needs of the current conditions and your expectations."

 

Selçuk said, "My colleagues who have been working day and night for our children since the day we closed our schools due to the pandemic. Each one of you is valuable. I wish  you success in the new education term."