Making statements at Malatya AFAD Coordination Center, the Minister of National Education Mahmut Özer, underlined that it is very important to carry out the process safely and they will not start education in any institution that does not have a building soundness certificate.

 

Wishing success to the students and teachers who started education in 71 provinces today, Minister Özer announced that the number of students who were transferred from 10 provinces affected by the earthquake has increased to 74 thousand 884. 

 

Stating that in addition to 10 provinces declared as earthquake zones, Minister Özer noted that Elazığ were also identified as quake-hit province and students in this city will not be required to attend the second semester. 

 

Stating that education will be started only in schools that have building soundness certificate, given by the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change and indicates that the building is safe and structurally sound, Özer said that they will never let students and teachers into schools without obtaining a building soundness certificate and will not start education in those schools.

 

Explaining that they divided 10 provinces into 3 categories after a comprehensive evaluation with the governors and provincial directors of National Education, Minister Özer said that Adana, Diyarbakır, Kilis and Şanlıurfa are considered in the first category. Announcing that they will start education in all the city centers and districts of these provinces as of March 1. Minister stated that they put Gaziantep and Osmaniye in the second category where they decided to extend the suspension of education until March 13. Minister Özer designated Adıyaman, Malatya, Kahramanmaraş and Hatay as provinces in the third category where suspension of education is prolonged until March 27.

 

Expressing that they started the process that will bring together 10 provinces with education and training and ensure safety-oriented normalization in education, with the decisions taken today, Minister Mahmut Özer announced that they will open hospital classes in all hospitals in 10 provinces until 1 March. Stating that in addition to the students who are treated at the hospital in these hospital classes, the children of health workers who work day and night can also benefit from these classes, Özer announced that as of March 1, they will open a support and training course for 8th and 12th grade students who will enter LGS and YKS. Özer stated that they will support the 8th and 12th grade students in the provinces in the second and the third category where the suspension of education is extended by opening support and training courses as of March 1. 

 

In addition to the need for textbooks and study aids, all stationery needs of earthquake victims will be met by the Ministry.

 

Stating that the textbooks and study aids needed by the 8th and 12th grade students in 10 provinces have been reprinted, Özer said that they will deliver approximately 11 million 820 thousand 918 books and study aids to all students as of March 1. Announcing that in addition to students in other classes they have started to reprint textbooks and study aids at all grade levels for the provinces in the second and third categories, Özer said that the Ministry will provide all stationery materials for students affected by the earthquake.

 

Stressing that although education and training is postponed in the provinces in the second and third categories, they will create tent classrooms for kindergarten, primary and secondary schools in tent cities and container cities, just like in Gaziantep Islahiye, Özer announced that the number of psychosocial support centers that provide psychological support for students has reached 377. Stating that preschool teachers, guidance teachers and psychological counselors are working to support children with games and activities, Özer said that they will increase the number of these centers.

 

Emphasizing that as the Ministry, they will use all resources to continue education with different options and support mechanisms under all circumstances, Özer underlined that the most important thing is to ensure security.

 

Expressing his gratitude to the vocational high schools, public education centers, volunteer teachers and the entire National Education community working to meet the needs of citizens and students in the earthquake area, Özer stated that they will share the new developments with the public.