The Shura Council State of Qatar

Shura Council held its ordinary weekly session under the chairmanship of HE Speaker of the Council Ahmed bin Abdullah bin Zaid Al Mahmoud.

In response to His Excellency's invitation, HE Minister of Education and Higher Education Dr. Mohammed bin Abdul Wahed Al Hammadi attended the session to present the ministry's view on the public discussion request submitted by a number of Shura Council members to discuss the education issues in the state.

HE the Shura Council Speaker welcomed HE the Minister and thanked him for accepting the invitation, and invited him to speak to the members of the Council, listen to their views and answer their questions and queries.

At the beginning of the session, HE the Shura Council Speaker on his behalf and on behalf of the Council members thanked HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani for his interest and support to education in the State of Qatar, which undoubtedly greatly developed. His Excellency also thanked HE the Minister and the ministry for all their efforts. His Excellency noted that there are some issues that need to be visited to develop education and they must be discussed. HE Al Mahmoud also added that the ministry's view must be heard with regards to the comments and questions raised by the Council members on education.

HE the Minister said to the Council that education is given great importance by HH the Amir and is a top priority for the government and followed up by HE the Prime Minister. His Excellency also gave a presentation on the great development witnessed by the educational process and reviewed the strategic objectives of education. HE Al Hammadi said that the ministry developed a reference framework for curricula based on Qatar's national vision, identity and values and what it seeks to achieve in the future.

His Excellency highlighted the ministry's efforts to attract teachers saying that standards have been put in place for their employment, evaluation and the preparation of specialized programs in coordination with the college of education at the Qatar University. HE Al Hammadi added that incentives and rewards have been allocated to encourage citizens and residents to join the education sector. His Excellency also announced that the coming period will see the implementation of several projects for the development of higher education.

The discussions focused on the development and revision of curricula and Qatarization of education, encouraging and training teachers, e-learning, education of people with special needs, regulating of fees for private schools, especially foreign schools, as well as education vouchers and private lessons in addition to addressing issues arising from the equivalence and certification of university degrees and applying them to all without discrimination.

The discussions included the length of the academic year, the short annual leave of the teachers, the number of tasks assigned to the teacher and the linking of teachers' annual leave with the end of the academic year.

After the discussions, HE the Speaker of the Shura Council thanked, on his behalf and on behalf of the Council members, HE the Minister of Education and Higher Education for his important clarifications regarding the educational policy and the ministry's efforts to address the problems and obstacles as well as future plans for the development of education and higher education.

For his part, HE the Minister of Education and Higher Education praised the proposals and observations of the members of the Shura Council, stressing that the ministry will take them into account.

Assistant Undersecretary for Educational Affairs of the Ministry of Education and Higher Education Fawzia bint Abdulaziz Al Khater attended the session.

Moreover, the council continued its meeting, where HE Ahmed bin Abdullah bin Zaid Al Mahmoud, Speaker of the Shura Council and Chairman of the Organizing Committee of the 140th General Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and its related meetings, briefed the council on arrangements for Doha's hosting of the session, which will be held from 6 to 10 April, confirming the completion of these arrangements.

His Excellency said that this session is witnessing high turnout to participate in its meetings, pointing out that the focus of the public debate will be "Parliaments as platforms to enhance education for peace, security and the rule of law."

HE Speaker of the Shura Council reviewed the program of the 140th IPU General Assembly and the related meetings, pointing out that there are parallel activities aimed at briefing the participants on the achievements of the State of Qatar in various fields of economic and social development.

The meeting was attended by HE Abdullah bin Abdulrahman Fakhro, Chief Executive Officer of the Permanent Committee for Organizing Conferences at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Coordinator of the Organizing Committee, who gave a detailed presentation of the arrangements for the session.

The meeting was also attended by members of the Organizing Committee and Chairmen of the Subcommittees.