WCEP in the Press
High School Students Choose Canada
Applications continue for those who want to study abroad for the 2021-2022 academic year with student exchange programs. International High School Student Exchange Program WCEP Turkey announced that Canada stands out among the countries preferred by students as a result of applications for study abroad.
The Coronavirus pandemic, which the whole world is struggling with, has had its effects in the field of overseas education, as in many areas. In the first months of the pandemic, countries took precautions and closed their borders, causing disruptions in student exchange program selections and schools' student acceptance. Applications started again last September, when the pandemic was largely brought under control. It was announced that the selection process for student candidates who want to study abroad in the 2021-2022 academic year would continue until April 2021 within the scope of pandemic measures.
Volkan Cerrahoğlu, Turkey General Manager of the International High School Student Exchange Program WCEP, stated that high school students chose for Canada in this process and said, “Canada continues to successfully maintain its education system under pandemic conditions with the distance education infrastructure it currently uses. With the practices it adopts during student admission and education, it provides assurance, especially for students in Turkey, regarding both their health and the continuity of their education.”
14-DAY QUARANTINE AND HEALTH INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS
Referring to the conditions that Canada imposes for student admission, Cerrahoğlu said, “Students with an existing study permit to Canada will be able to participate in exchange programs in the 2021-2022 academic year. There is a 14-day quarantine requirement upon entering the country after the flight. As of January, it is mandatory to submit a negative PCR test result taken at most 3 days before the arrival date. The student must also have health insurance. There is a two-stage visa application for students who will attend diploma, undergraduate, and master's programs at colleges and universities online. Visa applications are also open for students who will go to language schools." He added that the announcement period for visas could take up to 5 months.
Stating that new practices started in Canada's education system in line with the pandemic conditions, Cerrahoğlu explained the relevant procedures as follows:
"In Canada, the ministries of education of each state are in coordination with public health experts in their regions and follow the number of patients and the course of the pandemic. They take measures to protect the health of both students and local people. While schools are open to face-to-face education in regions with low or no patient numbers, in regions with a denser population and high patient numbers, distance education can be switched periodically, and hybrid and alternative education models are implemented as well. National measures have been taken to ensure that international students can participate in education during the pandemic. Accordingly, only educational institutions that have had their Covid-19 Preparation Plan approved by the state are allowed to accept students from abroad. Applications continue within the quota, and both physical and online methods are used to select students."
GUIDANCE FOR STUDENTS IN ANATOLIA
Stating that they, as WCEP, aimed to provide the opportunity to participate in the auditions to students who want to participate in student exchange programs from all over Turkey, Cerrahoğlu said, “We offer opportunities not only to our students in metropolitan cities but also in Anatolia to receive high school education abroad, and guide them to realize their dreams. Currently, auditions are ongoing in Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir, Adana, Antalya, Hatay, Kayseri, Malatya, Manisa, Mersin, Muğla, and Uşak. As WCEP, we continue to hold the hands of young people who will build our future, and we do not stop walking alongside them for a moment to help them grow up as individuals who are on firm ground. We believe that we will overcome all obstacles with the collaborations we have developed around the world.”
Source: https://www.dha.com.tr/istanbul/lise-ogrencileri-tercihini-kanadadan-yana-kullaniyor/haber-1805955
