Educational Policy Actions by the Ministry of National Education in the times of COVID-19 Pandemic in Turkey

Abstract

Countries struggle with the new situations due to COVID-19 pandemic around the world, and educational authorities strive for meeting the educational needs of students by using different online portals and distance education solutions. Billions of students and millions of educators are affected by school closures and other restrictions. In this study, I review the educational policy actions in Turkey by Ministry of National Education (MoNE) to maintain educational services, and to meet the needs of society with the productions of educational institutions in COVID-19 pandemic days. With school closures in Turkey, MoNE strengthened the infrastructure of digital educational portal, Educational Informatics Network (EBA) and collaborated with Turkish Radio and Television Corporation (TRT) to establish an effective distance education system. Vocational education and training (VET) institutions have made great contributions to meet the needs of the society via its potential in production and adaptation. To cope with the negative psychological effects of COVID-19, MoNE established a psychosocial support system involving specific helpline and guides. Consequently, MoNE quickly established an extensive distance education environment which supports students academically and socially, developed psychosocial support system, and used VET institutions to produce the needed materials and equipment in pandemic days.