Yesterday, schools across the country received students for in-person classes while strictly adhering to COVID-19 prevention protocols.

According to an official, the Ministry of Education and Higher Education is closely monitoring schools to ensure compliance with preventive measures such as social distancing, wearing face masks, and providing parents/guardians with declaration forms containing antigen test results.

"The first two weeks antigen test at home is mandatory for all students," said Mohammed Abdullah Al Maraghi, Director of the Health and Safety Department at the Ministry of Education and Higher Education.

In an interview with Qatar TV yesterday, he stated that the Ministries of Education and Higher Education, in collaboration with the Ministries of Public Health, will run intensified campaigns to closely monitor the situation over the next two weeks.

"Daily meetings between teams from the two ministries will be held to ensure the health situation in schools," Al Maraghi said. He stated that an appropriate decision will be made based on the pandemic situation before the end of the first two weeks. "However, we are optimistic that COVID-19's situation will have improved by that time."

He praised the government's decision to implement antigen tests, which have made a significant contribution to providing a safe and healthy environment on school grounds. "The decision is expected to aid in the return to normalcy across the country, not just in schools." I'd like to reassure parents and guardians that their children are safe on school grounds. "Over the last two years, we made several decisions based on the country's pandemic situation, such as 100 percent online and blended learning with 50 percent capacity," Al Maraghi explained. He stated that parents are relieved to see their children return to school and attend classes in person. "With the return of students, life returns to the school building, presenting a complete educational environment."

He stated that it was critical to return students to their classrooms in a normal learning environment. "Everyone is very concerned about the safety of students as well as their education," Al Maraghi said.

He stated that parents wanted to see their children develop routines such as going to bed on time, getting up early in the morning, getting ready for school, attending classes, interacting with teachers, and meeting their classmates.

"All of these things are very important for providing quality education to students and developing their personalities," Al Maraghi said.

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