Online education in Turkish universities after the earthquake: the pros and cons

Abstract

On 6 February 2023, several provinces in Turkey were hit by two severe earthquakes measuring 7.8 and 7.5 magnitudes on the Richter scale, followed by thousands of aftershocks, which caused severe destruction of property, infrastructure, and livelihoods in the affected communities, leaving a large number of deaths and injuries, in addition to the displacement of millions of people. Schools and universities have had to close for a period of time to allow for structural repairs to take place. In the meantime, schools and universities have had to find alternative ways to teach and provide a learning environment for students. This includes providing online classes and distance learning options which were previously implemented during the Covid-19 pandemic. This study aims to evaluate online education during the period of the Covid-19 pandemic in terms of the negatives and positives, and how this system can be applied in the post-earthquake phase and avoid the negatives that occurred during the pandemic. The pandemic has affected the way people live and work around the world, and the earthquake has caused similar devastation. For example, both disasters have disrupted schooling and increased levels of unemployment, with students and teachers trying to adapt to new ways of learning and working. Both disasters have caused people to be more isolated from their family and friends, and both have caused considerable stress, anxiety, and depression. The earthquake has also caused a significant amount of physical damage to homes, businesses, and infrastructure, making the rebuilding process a long and arduous one. The disasters have also caused financial strain for many people, as they try to rebuild their lives. Many students, teachers, and their families have been displaced to other areas due to the earthquake. The online system during the Covid pandemic has shown great success despite some negatives, such as limited competition among students, limited participation during the lesson, some physical and social obstacles, in addition to the negative impact on students' lab practical skills. Conditions may be better now because university officials and teachers have gained experience during the Covid-19 pandemic in applying the system, and these universities have special programs for online education, and these programs have been improved towards of pandemic. Government authorities and universities should implement policies that provide support for students who are facing financial difficulties during this time, such as tuition fee waivers, fee discounts, financial aid packages, and free internet service.