Attendance optional for Turkish students on two short in-person schooldays

Turkey's elementary, middle and high school students will be attending in-person classes two days a week, starting on Oct. 12, Education Minister Ziya Selçuk said. Attendance will not be mandatory for any student, and they will not be penalized for their absence, the minister added.

Tuesday October 06 2020 01:54 pm

Duvar English

Turkey's elementary, middle and high schools will start classes with an online and in-person hybrid curriculum on Oct. 12, Education Minister Ziya Selçuk said on Oct. 6.

Modeled after kindergarten and first grade students' schedule that's been in place since Sept. 21, all grades will attend classes in-person on two days of the week, the minister said.

However, attendance will not be mandatory for any student, and they will not be penalized for their absence if they choose not to attend in-person classes.

"But I've said this a couple of times. Students who are kept home by their parents must follow along on remote education. Because they will be responsible for the material," the minister said.

Class sizes will be shrunk in accordance with the Science Committee guidelines, Selçuk said, adding that school days will also be cut short too.

The minister said that parents will feel more at ease about sending their kids to school once classes start, as they will observe strict adherence to COVID-19 guidelines.