TRNC government to vaccinate students, start Face-To-Face education and make it easier for students to obtain visa electronically

TRNC government plan to vaccinate students entering the island for education so as to start Face-To-Face education in the coming semester and also making plans that will make it easier for new students to obtain visa electronically without embassy stress.

Last week, the TRNC Ministry of National Education and Culture, held an evaluation meeting with university rectors and YÖDAK for the planning of the 2021-2022 higher education year in the country. 

Prime Minister Ersan Saner, Minister of National Education and Culture Olgun Amcaoğlu, YÖDAK (Higher Education Planning, Inspection, Accreditation and Coordination Board) President Prof. Dr. Turgay Avcı, YÖDAK members and university rectors were in attendance.

Speaking at the event, Prime Minister Ersan Saner emphasized that the driving force of the TRNC economy is dependent on two main sectors, tourism and education, adding that they will fulfill their obligations as a state and enable universities to start education face to face by Fall semester.

Saner noted that they managed to bring in 13,500 students to the country already this year, and that about 72,000 students continue their education actively. 

He said the reason why the TRNC is a center of attraction for students is because the country is among the best countries in the world in terms of coronavirus contamination and the number of deaths linked to the virus.

Minister of Education, Olgun Amcaoğlu stated that the problems experienced in higher education in the past have been expressed in the meetings with the President of the Council of Higher Education (YÖK) Yekta Saraç and that many problems have been solved for the next period. 

He noted that the visa problems been experienced by international students will be solved as the government have taken an important steps in this direction. 

The works are in the process of completion. Students will no longer wait at the embassy gates. Transactions will take place electronically, he said. 

YÖDAK President Avcı said universities have a very important place both in economic contribution, social contribution and in the opening of TRNC to the world. He pointed out that “It is absolutely necessary to set a face-to-face education target for the Fall term adding that "There is no substitute for this.

Avcı reminded the government of it's responsibility to "vaccinate"people in order to initiate face-to-face education stating that academic, administrative staff and students should be vaccinated during this period until the beginning of the next term. 

Avcı suggested that a program be prepared for the vaccination of students who will come to the island without vaccination.

Emphasizing that with the vaccination of unvaccinated students in the country, there will be no question marks in the context of Covid-19.

He also highlighted the benefits of the active 84 thousand students on the island for 10 months.