Reminding that education was suspended until February 20 in 71 provinces and until March 1 in 10 provinces in the earthquake zone, Minister of National Education Mahmut Özer said that they will postpone the date if it is not safe to start education on March 1. Özer noted that they are planning to start education in certain districts on March 1.

 

Stating that only 24 of the 20 thousand 868 buildings belonging to the Ministry of National Education in the region affected by the earthquake were destroyed, and only 83 of them were heavily damaged, Minister Özer announced that they will finalize the damage assessment and make district-based planning by the end of this week. He said that they will start education in districts if it is safe but the suspension will be extended in places where there are problems in terms of security and other preparation.

 

Stating that they have announced that students in 10 provinces will be transferred to equivalent schools in other provinces, Özer said that so far, 2 thousand 681 students have been transferred to other provinces and that they will start education as of February 20. Underlining that they created a student capacity for students in the region to continue their education, Özer emphasized that the scholarship quota in private education institutions for students has been increased from 3 percent to 10 percent and that 7 percent capacity will be used for students in the earthquake zone. 

 

Expressing that teachers who work in other provinces and have families in the earthquake zone, considered as they are on administrative leave, Özer said that they will make appointments and assignments regarding the transfers and excuses of these teachers in the upcoming days.

 

Noting that they established a psychosocial support center to provide psychological support for earthquake survivors, Özer stated that they have established 187 psychosocial support tents in tent cities and assembly areas. Stating that classroom teachers, preschool teachers, nurses and psychological counselors play games and organize various activities for children in these tents, Özer said that they help earthquake victims to overcome their traumas.

 

Expressing that they will make a statement regarding the LGS schedule in the upcoming days, Minister Mahmut Özer reminded that the subjects of the 8th grade in the LGS 2023 and the second semester of the 12th grade in the YKS will not be included in the exams. Stating that their aim is to safely reunite students with their school, Özer stated that the Ministry has taken.