Breaking Development: Schools Will Hold Classes During Summer Vacation! A significant update affecting millions of students and teachers has been announced. Due to disruptions from the coronavirus pandemic, many schools were unable to operate during the second term. A new law was introduced to and approved by the Grand National Assembly of Turkey. According to this law, universities as well as primary and secondary schools may hold instructional programs during the summer break. The draft law titled “Amendments to the Higher Education Law and Certain Other Laws” has been approved within the Grand National Assembly. As a result, schools can provide education during the summer vacation, and teachers’ two-month summer leave may be shortened.
The law approved by the Grand National Assembly states the following: if education and training activities cannot be carried out for more than two weeks due to reasons that affect public life—such as epidemic diseases, natural disasters, or adverse weather conditions—make-up programs will be implemented. If the missed instructional hours cannot be completed within the regular school year, these make-up programs will take place during the summer vacation to cover the missed lessons. Under this framework, the Ministry of National Education may reduce teachers’ summer leave periods.
Make-Up Education Will Be Held During Summer Vacation
Make-up education will be held during summer vacation. One of the most important disruptions caused by the coronavirus pandemic has been the interruption of education, which is crucial for children. Because the pandemic affected the timing of the second term nationwide, education and training were suspended for an extended period. Although there is still no definitive end date for the coronavirus outbreak, authorities are preparing to provide make-up instruction in schools during the summer. The content of the bill prepared and approved by the Assembly is summarized below.
Under the amendment to the Basic Law on National Education, teachers’ leaves and vacations have been reorganized. Teachers will still have a two-month uninterrupted summer leave, but during periods outside of that two-month leave they will be required to participate in professionally related activities determined by regulation.
Guidance counselors may be assigned during leave and vacation periods if needed to carry out work related to student guidance, education program choices, subject and course selection, and student assessment processes. During this period, the leave time for guidance counselors cannot be less than one month.
When education and training are suspended for more than two weeks at the district, provincial, or national level because of epidemic disease, natural disaster, or adverse weather conditions, make-up education programs will be organized. If these make-up programs cannot be completed during the school year, they are planned to take place during summer vacation. Due to these summer instructional activities, the Ministry of National Education may shorten teachers’ leave periods, provided that teachers’ leave does not fall below one month.
Those assigned second duties as school or institution administrators, teachers working in institutions where face-to-face education is not conducted, and administrators and teachers assigned in ministry central or provincial and district directorates of national education will use their annual leave in accordance with the provisions of the Civil Servants Law.
School principals and vice-principals will arrange their vacation schedules on a rotating basis in order to manage and organize school operations during the holiday months.