Turkey has no intention to suspend in-person learning: President

By Seda Sevencan

ISTANBUL (AA) – Turkey will continue in-class learning, including in universities, with COVID-19 measures observed, the nation's president said on Tuesday.

"We are determined to continue education without interruption at our universities by taking necessary measures against the pandemic threat," Recep Tayyip Erdogan said at the opening ceremony of 2021-2022 academic year for universities.

Regarding education in preschools, primary, secondary and high schools, Erdogan said some classes may be quarantined depending on the case number, however, he ruled out a closure of a school or schools across districts and cities.

Distance learning cannot not replace face-to-face education, the president said, adding that the government took every precaution to resume in-class learning in all education institutions in preset time.

Turkey resumed face-to-face learning in schools five days a week beginning Sept. 6.

The country administered more than 110 million COVID-19 vaccine doses since launching a mass immunization campaign in January.

According to the Health Ministry, over 6.98 million infections and 62,745 coronavirus-related deaths have been recorded in Turkey so far.