Omar Al-Naama
DOHA: In a landmark step to strengthen student well-being, Ministry of Education and Higher Education (MoEHE) launched the first edition of its Student Protection and Care Policy during the inaugural “Raya’a” Conference, aimed at fostering safe and supportive learning environments across schools and kindergartens.
The two-day conference, held at the Ministry headquarters, gathered educators, school leaders, and experts to discuss best practices in student protection. The newly launched policy applies to private schools and kindergartens for the 2025–2026 academic year and aims to enhance safety and ensure students grow and learn in a healthy and secure setting.
The opening ceremony was attended by senior education officials, including Omar Al-Naama, Assistant Undersecretary for Private Education Affairs, alongside directors of private schools and kindergartens. A distinguished panel of local and international experts in child protection, mental health, education, and legislation took part in the discussions, which focused on developing practical recommendations based on global best practices.
In his opening remarks, Al-Naama welcomed participants and highlighted the strategic importance of the conference, noting that “protection is no longer a reactive response to individual incidents but a comprehensive institutional culture built on clear policies, structured practices, and continuous training for all education personnel.”
Rania Mohamed, Director of the Department of Private Schools and Kindergartens and Acting Director of the Private School Licensing Department, emphasised that the “Raya’a” theme reflects a shared responsibility among educators, families, and the community. “It is about creating a school environment rooted in safety, respect, and care,” she said.
One of the conference highlights was a presentation by Khalid Al Ansari, Chair of the National Committee for Child Protection at Ministry of Public Health (Qatar). He outlined Qatar’s advanced legal and procedural framework for responding to child abuse cases — from identification to effective referral and intervention. “The best interest of the child remains our highest priority,” he stressed.
