DOHA: More than 340,000 students will head back to schools from tomorrow after a prolonged but forced vacation caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
Minister of Education and Higher Education H E Dr Mohammed bin Abdul Wahed Al Hammadi congratulated students and their parents on the beginning of the new academic year. The government and many other schools are starting a new academic year tomorrow, while a majority of community schools are in the midst of their academic year.
“It is beyond doubt that we have been facing a health threat that severely impacted the educational, health, economic and social aspects of life. Since the suspension of schools on 22 March, the ministry has been working tirelessly to provide innovative solutions that consider the health and well-being of our students and colleagues,” the minister said in a video message on the occasion.
The minister said 13 new private schools and kindergartens with a capacity of 7,600 seats were opened. The total number of private schools and kindergartens in the country is now 334, which will accommodate nearly 215,000 students.
The minister thanked the teaching and administrative staff for their tireless work and dedication to their duties despite the concerns associated with the Covid-19 pandemic.
Also, five new public schools were opened, including Qatar Technical Secondary School for Girls, which brings the total number of public schools and preschools to 283.
In view of the dire situation caused by the Covid-19, the government has introduced a new concept of “blended learning”, the minister said.