Doha: Over 94% of teachers and administrative staff have received COVID-19 vaccines in all public and private schools and kindergartens in Qatar to create a safe and healthy school environment enhancing the academic achievement of students.
“The blended learning system has become the best option to ensure the continuity of the educational process without interruption and to ensure the quality of education while maintaining the health and safety of students,” said Minister of Education and Higher Education H E Dr. Mohammed bin Abdulwahed Al Hammadi in a statement.
The Minister also congratulated school staff, students, their parents, partners of educational process on the occasion of the start of the academic year 2020-21 on time, despite COVID-19 pandemic.
He called on students to persevere diligence to achieve their educational and pedagogical aspirations and take advantage of academic opportunities and options in the field of education.
The Minister also called on parents to cooperate and pay attention to the follow-up of their children’s learning, placing it at the top of teir priorities and enhancing their communication with their children’s schools.
He noted that blended learning has moved the educational process outside the school walls, and given parents a greater role in educating their children, which enhances their partnership in educational process.
The Minister stressed on the importance of adhering to the precautionary measures approved by the Ministry of Education and Higher Education in cooperation with the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) to ensure the safety of all school personnel.
Minister of Education and Higher Education, H E Dr. Mohammed bin Abdulwahed Al Hammadi
On the preparations for new academic year, he said: “The Ministry has provided all the educational inputs for the start of the new academic year to make our education system effective enabling graduates to keep pace with the requirements of the times.”
“The Ministry also ensures the provision of well-qualified teachers, effective and inspiring school administrations, the establishment of modern school systems, and curricula that respond to 21st century skills.”
The Minister praised the pioneering role of teachers, saying: “I am pleased to congratulate you on a new academic year, with which we build a promising future for our students. We highly appreciate your exceptional efforts, especially during pandemic, as trust in you is growing, and your role in building a human being is a fundamental pillar of nation building.”
He said that the percentage of vaccinated students who received two doses of COVID-19 vaccine in the age groups from 12 to 15 years is 48.71%, and students at the age of 16 to 18 are 63.17%, according to data sent by the Primary Health Care Corporation.
The Minister said that the total vaccinated employees in public and private schools (teachers, administrators and workers) reached 93.3%. As for recruitment of new teachers, he said: “About 530 male and female teachers were recruited (for local and out of the country contracts), 416 of them for local contracts, and 114 for out of the country contracts.”
On the readiness of the school environment, the Minister said that 133 schools have been painted, two schools underwent complete maintenance.
“Two schools (kindergarten + primary school) have been equipped for Al Hedaya schools for people with special needs. As part of the Public Works Authority project, 20 additional buildings annexed to schools were received and operated. All schools ensured to be ready by providing them with the necessary disinfection materials following the instructions of MoPH to curb the pandemic.”
On the logistical support, the Minister said that about 2,150 buses have been provided to operate from the start of new academic year as per the need.