Minister of National Education Ziya Selçuk went to Sakarya for a series of contacts. Governor Oktay Kaldırım, Metropolitan Mayor Ekrem Yüce, Local Police Chief Fatih Kaya, Provincial Director of Education Fazilet Durmuş and other officials greeted Selçuk who visited the Hatice Aslan Primary and Secondary School. 

 

Students of the school presented the certificate of tree saplings to Minister Selçuk. The saplings were planted in order to honor Minister Selçuk.

 

Selçuk visited classrooms and chatted with teachers. Following his visit, Selçuk answered the questions of press members.

 

"High attendance of students to the face to face education reveals that parents are supporting our decision. According to the data we obtained from last week's figures, student attendance in primary and secondary schools are above 80 percent. Participation to face to face education in high schools is above 70 percent. These figures reveal that both students and parents are supporting our decision. This makes us happy but on the other hand we have to take further measures in order to prevent potential hazards. This is our main focus," stated Selçuk.

 

He went on to say that; "Tens of thousands of messages coming from parents and students show that they are happy about the start of face to face education and have expectations from us... We have to take more measures in an effort to prevent any possible health hazard and this is what we are doing right now."

 

Noting that he will conduct inspections in schools during his visit to Sakarya, Selçuk stated, "We are busy with visiting different cities of Turkey and see what is going on and inspect the situation of schools and define what we can do in order to take further steps."

 

Minister Selçuk stressed that the Ministry needs the support of parents and teachers during this process.

 

He pointed out that the Ministry of Health had posted a map of Turkey with all 81 provinces color-coded as low, medium, high, or very high risk groups according to the COVID-19 evaluation criteria, which includes the number of cases and vaccination rates.

 

Noting that he is happy to see that the color code of some cities are turning a low risk group, Selçuk said, "Children are playing contact free games at school gardens. Of course, there might be some exceptions and some shortcomings. We are doing everything in our power to correct these immediately."

 

Answering a question if there will be any change in the gradual face to face education, Selçuk stated, "Our purpose is to open face to face education for all grades in every city of the country. According to the change in the color-coded coronavirus hazard map, we will change the situation at schools. It is like a race... A race for the better and healthier."