The pandemic has affected the education system globally when most governments have temporarily shut down educational institutions and adopted distance learning systems in an attempt to continue education under imperatives of isolation and social distancing. ECO member states have also developed national distance learning platforms, methods and tools and started to implement programs that address the challenges associated with distance learning.
Upon proposition by the Ministry of National Education of the Republic of Turkey, Economic Cooperation Organization Educational Institute invited technical experts, heads of departments or and general directors at the Ministries of Education of ECO member countries in order to share the experiences and disseminate good practices among ECO countries in responding to the COVID-19 Pandemic. Topics to be discussed include:
- Distance education in the COVID-19 process
- Psycho-social support to students, parents and teachers during the COVID-19 process
- Teacher training in the COVID-19 process
The workshop has attended by Prof. M. Akif Kireçci, President of the ECOEI, Burcu EYİSOY DALKIRAN, Director General for EU and Foreign Relations, M. Hakan Bucuk,General Directorate of Innovation and Educational Technologies, Dr. Murat Ağar, Special Education and Guidance Service Department, and Mustafa Sever, General Directorate of Teacher Training and Development, Ministry of National Education of the Republic of Turkey (MoNE). In addition delegates from the Republic of Azerbaijan, Islamic Republic of Iran, Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus and Republic of Turkmenistan were also present.
Participants have discussed the effects of the pandemic on the education system, shared and explained their respected countries’ educational responses to the crises. ECO members highlighted the importance of immediate response, taking quick measures, delivering quality content, training teachers, supporting parents and students, and providing technological infrastructure. The members have also agreed that it is significant to support one and other, and to share the best practice and experiences among the ECO countries.