Schools in 48 remote villages switch to distance learning this year

Distance learning has been introduced in 48 remote village schools since the start of the new academic year, Eshgi Baghirov, director of the State Agency for Preschool and General Education (MÜTDA), said on the Pressinq program aired by Public Television (İTV).

Report quotes him as saying this means improving the educational environment for 1,200 students:

"While this model was implemented in eight schools during the previous academic year, their number has increased to 48 since the beginning of the new academic year. If a school is located nearby, is accessible to students and can provide educational services without the need for additional transportation, no transportation is arranged.

If we cannot provide a student with an alternative school in the nearby area, we organize transportation services. In schools where we are unable to meet basic needs, particularly in terms of providing teachers, we implement digital solutions. After equipping these schools with the necessary technology, including computers and network infrastructure, and meeting other required conditions, we involve students in online, or distance, learning within their own educational environment, without the need for them to be transported or attend another school."

The head of MÜTDA said that if the decision to introduce distance learning had not been made, 1,200 students could have faced various difficulties related to staffing, infrastructure or transportation:

"There could also have been attendance problems. The uniqueness of this project is that it addresses several problems simultaneously within a single project. Therefore, we will probably expand the scope of this model further in the coming years and cover more schools and more students."