Turkey to begin remote university classes on March 23

The head of Turkey's top higher education body announced on Wednesday that universities would begin providing online classes on March 23 amid the global coronavirus pandemic.

With schools, universities and colleges closed since March 13 amid efforts to contain the novel coronavirus, education has been yet another field severely affected by the COVID-19 disease, said Yekta Sarac, the head of Turkey's Council of Higher Education.

In a press conference, Sarac said Turkish education authorities quickly took action and planned alternative methods to assist students.

Upon the review of legislation, infrastructure, human resources, content and practice about remote education, Sarac told reporters that the council had found that the majority of universities in the country would be able to contribute to the initiative.

He said that over 6,000 lecturers and 50,000 students have been trained for online education over the past two years, thus easing the transition.

Sarac noted that universities lacking the necessary digital infrastructure would have access to a content cluster prepared in collaboration between the council and Ministry of National Education.

Worldwide, out of over 200,000 confirmed cases, the death toll now exceeds 8,000, while more than 82,500 patients have recovered, according to Worldometer, a website that compiles new case numbers.

The number of active cases is more than 109,000 -- 94% mild and 6% in critical condition, according to the website.

The World Health Organization has declared Europe the new epicenter of the virus, which first emerged in Wuhan, China last December.

* Writing by Ali Murat Alhas