The Minister of Education and Higher Education His Excellency Dr. Mohammed bin Abdul Wahed Al Hammadi congratulated students and their parents with the new beginning of the academic year 2020-2021.

HE Dr. Mohamed Abdul Wahed Ali al-Hammadi expressed hope that this year will be very successful and fruitful for all, particularly for students and parents.

In a statement issued on Monday, he said, "I would like to extend my gratitude to all teaching and administrative staff for their tireless work and dedication in spite of the concerns that were associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.’’

Undersecretary of the Ministry of Education and Higher Education affirmed Qatar's keenness on the safe return to schools, noting that the Ministry has completed its preparations to receive the students in schools. #QNA

— Qatar News Agency (@QNAEnglish) August 31, 2020

Wahed Ali al-Hammadi mentioned that "Over 340,000 students will attend our public and private schools for the upcoming academic year of 2020/21. We have been working over the past period to develop operational plans to receive this number of students.’’

Five new public schools have been opened, including Qatar Technical Secondary School for Girls, bringing the total number of public schools and preschools to 283.

Undersecretary of the Ministry of Education and Higher Education said that five new schools with 145 classrooms opened this year, bringing the total number of schools to 283, in addition to the Technical School for Girls. #QNA

— Qatar News Agency (@QNAEnglish) August 31, 2020

In addition, 145 new classrooms will be added to the existing public schools with a capacity of more than 3,600 seats.

Additionally, 13 new private schools and kindergartens with a capacity of more than 7,600 seats were opened, which brings the total number of private schools and kindergartens to 334.

"Based on COVID-19 infection rates in Qatar and driven by our belief in the importance of resuming the education process, the MOEHE, in close coordination with the Ministry of Public Health, decided to implement the 'Blended Learning' approach, which combines online and classroom-based learning.

The Minister said that the 'Blended Learning' offers parents a good opportunity to integrate into the educational system and renews their sense of responsibility toward their children's learning. "The success of blended learning depends on many factors, most prominently home-school partnership.''

To ensure a smooth implementation of the blended learning, and to reassure the public community; the Ministry has decided, in full coordination with the Ministry of Public Health, that all public and private school staff members will undergo medical examinations prior to the academic year to ensure that they are free of COVID-19.

"We have also stressed the necessity for all schools to comply with the precautionary measures announced by our Health and Safety Department.

Regarding university students, he said the Ministry has also arranged to ease the pandemic impact on them. Students were allowed to resume their learning remotely both in Qatar and abroad. Credit hours under the pandemic have been approved for courses that have been delivered regularly.

"We are constantly contacting our cultural attachés to follow up on our students and ensure their safety. Also, we have announced online registration for government scholarships and started receiving applications as per this year's plan,'' he mentioned.

In spite of the pandemic, the Ministry continues to implement its plan to expand on higher education institutions. ''The Lusail private university has been opened. It will offer an array of undergraduate programs to over 500 students in cooperation with overseas universities.''

HE Dr al-Hammadi urged the students to be optimistic and confident that this exceptional situation that struck the entire world, will end soon."We must be sure that this tough experience is a blessing in disguise, which will strengthen and benefit our students in their future. We pray that God would bring this pandemic to an end very soon and would protect our country," he added.

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Source: MOEHE