Stating that the basic processes in Malatya continue successfully, Minister of National Education Mahmut Özer said that they aim to ensure the transfer of citizens to solid buildings and container cities. He added that in Malatya the transfer of citizens is progressing very quickly.

 

Noting that the studies on planning of 10 thousand container cities have been concluded, Minister Özer said that 1 thousand 110 container cities have started to serve the citizens in Malatya. Noting that employees have moved to all public buildings that have been given a sound report by the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change, Özer emphasized that this is the first example to move solid buildings.

 

Referring to the latest developments regarding the Ministry in the provinces affected by the earthquake, Minister Özer stated that there are 3 million 784 thousand 411 students and 212 thousand 992 teachers in 10 provinces. Reminding that compulsory attendance in second term will not be required in all classes and levels in 10 provinces, Özer said that they have include tent centers, dormitories and container centers established in 10 provinces in the scope of education with transport, and that the students will be provided with free transportation from school to their accommodation areas. Özer stated that they will also provide hot meals to students. Noting that they started to transfer children in the earthquake zone to 71 other cities, in accordance with their requests, Özer repeated that they created a transfer capacity of 3 million 784 thousand 411 students in primary, secondary and high schools. Özer noted that the number of students benefiting from this opportunity is 5 thousand 836.

 

Reminding that the scholarship capacity of private education institutions, which was increased from 3 percent to 10 percent for earthquake victims, Özer stated that in this context, 110 thousand 735 additional capacities have been established in private education institutions and 2 thousand 332 students have benefited from scholarship so far.

 

Expressing that 4 thousand guidance teachers and psychological counselors have contributed to strengthen the psychosocial resilience of citizens and children, Minister Özer said that as of today, they will increase the number of guidance teachers and psychological counselors to 5 thousand. Reminding that they set up psychosocial support tents in tent cities and container centers established in 10 provinces, Özer said that together with the guidance teachers, psychological counselors and all the teams of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism they provide all kinds of support to our children in these tents to strengthen their psychosocial resilience. Stating that all the artists affiliated to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism have been organizing activities and playing games with children, Özer announced that they have set up 355 psychosocial support tents so far and will complete the installation of psychosocial support tents in all of the tent cities, container centers and assembly areas established in 10 provinces by Friday.

 

Underlining that more than 212 thousand teachers working in the field are on administrative leave because of suspension in education, Minister Özer stated that the course fees of these teachers will be paid. Özer announced that the Presidential Decree has been published in the Official Gazette on this matter. He stated that paid teachers and master trainers will also be paid.

 

Noting that 98 buildings out of 20 thousand 868 schools affiliated to the Ministry of National Education in the region were destroyed, Özer stated that the damage assessment of all other buildings will be completed by our Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change by Friday. Stating that as of the next week, the study to determine districts and regions regarding opening schools in these 10 provinces will be completed by the weekend, Özer stated that they will announce the results of these studies to the citizens as of the next week. In this context, Özer said that they continue to work on the requests of earthquake survivors and administrative personnel for compassionate appointments, excuse group appointments, and appointment of teachers who will come to the earthquake zone from other provinces. Özer announced that they will share the outcome regarding the appointment requests as of next week. Stating that they will start education in 71 provinces as of February 20, Özer emphasized that in order to normalize life, it is necessary to normalize education first, because the Ministry of National Education is a population for Türkiye not a sample. Expressing that the Ministry will ensure normalization together with 20 million students and 1.2 million teachers, just like it did in the Covid-19 pandemic, Özer emphasized that the state is on the field with all its resources. Emphasizing that they will overcome these processes in unity, Özer stated that the Minister Ersoy, governors, deputies, the Metropolitan Mayor, 2nd Army Commander, the Gendarme Commander and the Provincial Police Chief managed the processes very successfully with all other units. Özer expressed that as they gradually normalize the tents in the field, they will transport them to other areas.