Filiz Kerestecioğlu, the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) Member of Parliament for Ankara submitted a parliamentary question to the Minister of Education Ziya Selçuk.

Kerestecioğlu mentioned the equipment required for distant education and asked how many students have computers/tablets and how many of them can access a safe, high-speed internet. She stated that the data regarding the six-month distant education process used to be necessary and were not disclosed. Then, she asked the following questions: “How many students in our country have the computers or tablets required for distant education? How many students can access high-speed internet? Has the data been collected? “

Kerestecioğlu notes that although the Minister of Education Ziya Selçuk announced that face-to-face education will be started on September 21th, there have been no steps towards taking the hygiene precautions  in schools and she asks: “Have any necessary hygiene precautions been taken against Covid-19 during the summer in preparing schools for face-to-face education?”

Mentioning a disadvantaged group in particular, Kerestecioğlu asked: “Will distant education continue to be provided to students who have complication risks due to their health conditions?”

Are computers/tablets provided for students who are financially disadvantaged?

Kerestecioğlu stated that distant education deepens inequality in education. She gave examples from some countries which had similar practices due to the pandemic. She asked whether the Ministry was prepared in this regard: “Does your Ministry plan to purchase computers and tablets for financially disadvantaged students? If you have such a plan, what budget has been allocated to it? Will unlimited and high-speed internet access be provided to all of these students?”

Kerestecioğlu asked that based on which  scientific foundation the decision (to start face-to-face education on September 21st) was made.

All of the questions in the parliamentary question are as follows.

* Despite the number of new cases of Covid-19 having increased around the globe and experts warning that the number will  increase more in September/October, based on which scientific data, has it been decided that face to face education would be started on September 21st?

* How many students in our country have the computers or tablets required for distant education? How many students can access high speed internet? Has the data on the 6 month period of distant education been collected?

* Does your Ministry plan to purchase computers and tablets for students in need? If you have such a plan, what budget has been allocated for it?

* Will unlimited and high speed internet access be provided to all students in need?

* Have any necessary hygiene precautions been taken against Covid-19 during the summer in preparing schools for face-to-face education?

* Will distant education continue to be provided to students who have complication risks due to their health conditions?  What measures are planned to compensate for the inequalities that will arise between these students and those who will participate in face-to-face education?

* What is planned to protect the health of students and staff, to improve academic learning in pandemic conditions, and to provide emotional support to students and teachers?