Qatar's efforts in Education have been extraordinary. Through national and private institutions of higher education, the country has been working in partnership with international as well as non-profit organizations to provide educational opportunities to millions of young people, children, displaced persons around the world. 

Under this focus, Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, chairperson of Education Above All (EAA) and Qatar Foundation, has announced a new strategy to ensure that the number of out-of-school children in select countries reaches zero.

Her Highness unveiled the strategy at the plenary session of the World Innovation Summit for Education (WISE) 2019 at Qatar National Convention Center. 

“How can we even dream of achieving what seems impossible in a world that never ceases to produce wars and conflicts, a world that continues to invent regional and international crises?,” asks Her Highness Moza bint Nasser at #WISE19. #ZeroOOSC #WISETurns10 pic.twitter.com/gZtZh9CVtl

— WISE (@WISE_Tweets) November 21, 2019

"In order to innovate new solutions to the challenges like monitoring, among others, Education Above All is launching a new strategy to be implemented in selected countries, with the aim of ensuring the number of out-of-school children in these countries reaches zero. Through doing this, we can prove that nothing is impossible if we all determine that education truly is above all," Sheikha Moza noted.

She highlighted that since WISE was established 10 years ago, the aim was to make it an intellectual platform to effect change and a laboratory of innovation in addition to serving as a global hub for supporting education.

"In this context, and since its launch at WISE in 2012, the Education Above All Foundation embodied the spirit of innovation in developing and implementing its programs. Indeed, Education Above All has succeeded in enrolling 10 million children back into school," HH Sheikha Moza underlined. 

She further said that despite the efforts, official reports indicate that there are still 59 million primary-aged children who are out of school around the world.

“As a mother, I wonder: what if we look at these children from our perspective as fathers and mothers, through the same eyes that we view the future of our own children? Are we capable of doing this?” asks Her Highness Moza bint Nasser. #WISE19 #ZeroOOSC #WISETurns10

— WISE (@WISE_Tweets) November 21, 2019

However, in reality, the number is much larger, she pointed out, adding that most of these children are in hard-to-reach areas.

The innovative solutions to such challenges include the proposed concept of "portable, multi-functional schools, designed and equipped for refugee children and their families to use for education and community engagement," HH Sheikha Moza said.

The prototype was made to be affordable, adaptable to different weather conditions, and easy to compact for transporting from one location to another, she explained. 

"They were designed by the late renowned architect Zaha Hadid, and I remember her excitement when I asked her if it was possible for the field of architecture to provide an alternative solution to the tents or temporary wooden buildings typically used for refugee education. My suggestion resonated with her deep desire to contribute and help marginalized children around the world. She subsequently worked to develop and finalize the design until it became what is on display today at the WISE exhibition. Sadly, Zaha Hadid passed away before she saw this project become reality," she said. 

Her Highness Moza bint Nasser introduces a new concept of portable, multi-functional schools, designed & equipped for refugee children & their families to use for education & community engagement - designed by the late renowned architect Zaha Hadid. #WISE19 #ZeroOOSC #WISETurns10 pic.twitter.com/w8hmz2scIq

— WISE (@WISE_Tweets) November 21, 2019

HH Sheikha Moza officially unveiled the prototype classroom during her tour of the WISE Majlis.

EAA Foundation and Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy have partnered to fund the construction of these structures, which will be used during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 and then redistributed to Education Above All projects in many countries.

Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, Chairperson of Qatar Foundation attends conclusion of the 9th edition of WISE Summit 2019. Some 3,000 participants from more than 100 countries participated in the event, including 900 students from Qatar pic.twitter.com/5lKxjUBGqm

— Qatar News Agency (@QNAEnglish) November 21, 2019

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Cover Image Credit: Qatar Tribune

Source: Gulf Times