Although two weeks have passed since the start of face-to-face education, education cannot continue in a healthy way due to the protective measures not taken in many schools. While the Student Parent Association (Veli-Der) announced that at least 611 classrooms were quarantined in the second week of face-to-face education, the Izmir Medical Chamber issued a statement evaluating the 2-week process with the schools starting face-to-face education.
Noting that adequate preparations were not made before the schools were opened, the statement continues: “New classrooms were not built, new teachers were not appointed. The number of teachers who are said to be appointed is far from closing the teacher shortage in our country. The students at the damaged schools in İzmir, which suffered an earthquake, were directed to nearby schools, leading to an increase in student numbers. It is understood that an effective study has not been carried out in the name of training needs in the last year for the negativities caused by the earthquake. In overcrowded schools that do not have sufficient classrooms, the school can be kept open for 7 days, creating 40 percent additional space and reducing the number of classrooms. It is also unclear what kind of arrangements have been made for students who will stay in dormitories and hostels during the pandemic.”
The application for the PCR test is also mentioned in the statement: “Has a study been conducted on ‘rapid antigen tests’ for screening purposes? Uncertainty continues about where, how and under what conditions the tests will be conducted. School administrations should follow the HES code of students and parents. Students are shown as ‘contacted and risky’ on HES Code as the parents have PCR+. For an active management, testing of the contacts is mandatory.”
BirGün
