Qatar has always strived for excellence in education across all levels. Over the years, the country has diligently worked to create educational opportunities for students locally as well as internationally.

In line with the challenge presented by the current COVID-19 pandemic, Qatar's education system was quick to respond to the crisis by moving education online and activating distance learning procedures to ensure education continues without disruption.

Yesterday, while addressing the extraordinary (remote) meeting of the General Conference of Ministers of Education in the Member States of the Arab Bureau of Education for the Gulf States, His Excellency Qatar's Minister of Education and Higher Education Dr Mohamed Abdul Wahed Ali Al Hammadi affirmed Qatar's relentless efforts to tackle COVID-19 and reduce its impact on various areas, most importantly education.

HE Dr Mohmmed Abdul Wahed Al Hammadi, Minister of Education and Higher Education, participated yesterday in the Extraordinary Virtual Meeting of Education Ministers in the GCC, during which he reviewed Qatar's efforts to keep the education going through COVID-19 pandemic. pic.twitter.com/jHl7npE9FU

— وزارة التعليم (@Qatar_Edu) June 11, 2020

HE the Minister underlined that the emergence of the virus and the temporary closure of schools came under Qatar's preventive and precautionary measures to contain the spread of the virus.

However, following HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani's directives, the Ministry of Education and Higher Education made the decision to implement 'distance learning,' to ensure the health and safety of the students in the unprecedented times.

This shift to online education required a lot of cooperation and timely management between the Ministry and educational entities. 

The solution saw educational processes and works move ahead with the use of modern applications, where students were able to communicate with their schools and teachers to continue the learning uninterrupted. 

“What made the transition to distance learning in the schools of the State of Qatar smooth and easy in these exceptional circumstances” is the state’s possession of all the pillars of the application of infrastructures represented in electronic platforms, digital sources, trained human cadres, and students who have skills in dealing with technology," HE Al Hammadi said.

He pointed out that the focus on developing e-learning and promoting the digital transformation of the educational environment was a significant part of the Ministry's strategic plan since the start of the educational reform movement in the country - under the vision of the leadership.

The implementation of the distance learning process began with an integrated plan, HE the Minister said. This started off with unified platforms on the Internet, as well as two TV channels and 19 YouTube channels, to broadcast the video lessons throughout the day.

Furthermore, the new system addressed the needs of different categories of students. Educational lessons were produced and photographed for general education students with disabilities as well as specialized school students.

Under this process, textbooks were prepared in the form of electronic files and uploaded to the platform. A number of awareness and training programmes were broadcasted via TV channels and social media aimed at all involved in the learning process.

The Ministry also provided tablets and Internet lines for students who did not have them, whether in government or private schools, as well as facilities for students who have been diagnosed with the virus or their relatives, HE the Minister mentioned.

A modified evaluation system for students of grades 1 through 11 has been developed in line with the distance learning system, HE the Minister mentioned.

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