Curfew June 27th and 28th in Turkey

Curfew Restrictions in Turkey for June 27 and 28

On June 18, the Turkish Ministry of the Interior announced that a curfew will be imposed this Saturday and the following weekend due to entrance exams for both universities and high schools, taking place during these days.

The stay-at-home restriction will be in effect on June 20 and 27 between 9:30 a.m. and 3 p.m., according to the Ministry.

The restriction will also apply on June 28, from 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Those taking the exams and using public transportation to reach their institutions, as well as family members dropping off students, will be exempt from the requirement.

Additionally, municipalities will take the necessary measures to prevent disruptions in public transportation and will offer additional services as needed.

It was also indicated that during this curfew, food and essential goods establishments such as bakeries, markets, supermarkets, and butcher shops will remain open.

Workplaces engaged in the production, transportation, or sale of medicine, medical devices, medical masks, and disinfectants will also remain open, along with animal shelters, hotels, fuel stations, logistics companies, and intercity public transportation.

On June 18, Turkish Health Minister Fahrettin Koca tweeted, “The Ministry of Health’s Science Board recommended creating the necessary conditions for the exams. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan ordered a limited curfew to prevent crowds from gathering on the streets during exam hours and to dedicate the day solely to the youth.”

Eighth-grade students will take the High School Transition System (LGS) exam on June 20, and the Higher Education Institutions (YKS) university entrance exam will be held in three sessions on June 27 and 28.

The first curfew in Turkey was declared from April 11 to 12 to prevent the spread of coronavirus, followed by others in the subsequent weeks.

However, the government recently ended the lockdown as part of its normalization program.

Also, on June 18, Turkish Minister of Education Ziya Selçuk announced that “Turkey is fully prepared to handle these exams, and all necessary preventative measures against coronavirus have been taken.”

“The number of examination centers increased from 13,000 to approximately 18,000 because we want students to feel comfortable,” Ziya Selçuk told the Anadolu Agency Editors’ Desk.

“The number of proctors has also been increased to 353,000 from the original 148,000 to provide better assistance to the students,” he added.

The minister also emphasized that separate centers have been designated for children in quarantine due to coronavirus. Before entering the exam room, students will wear a new mask. However, if they wish, they may remove the mask during the exam, added Selçuk.

In Turkey, any student who successfully completes eight years of basic education can attend high school by taking the LGS exam.

Istanbul