Children returning to school yesterday after a long Summer break. Pic: Qassim Rahmatullah / The Peninsula
DOHA: Thousands of students of government and private schools started their new academic year with great joy yesterday after a long summer break.
Roads witnessed more traffic flow during school hours as parents and school buses rushed to schools early to avoid traffic. Children were excited to meet teachers and friends after a long summer break.
Ministry of Education and Higher Education had already completed its preparation for the new academic year 2018-2019. The preparations involved ensuring school classes will take up the new number of students with proper availability of transportation and that food products being offered in school cafeterias are in line with regulations.
Talking to The Peninsula, Sana Salman, a Pakistani expatriate mother said: “My daughters are studying in American School of Doha; first in the sixth grade while the other one in the second grade. My children are always excited to meet their friends at school. After a long break, kids had started missing their school routine and friends.”
As children were excited for new academic year with a fresh start, teachers were back to school with new methodologies and techniques of teaching for their students. “Our teachers have come up with new methods to make subjects easy to understand. I have been promoted to sixth grade which is slightly difficult from the previous grade. I will try my best to study well and score higher marks than the last year,” said Imman Masood, a student of American School of Doha.
Some students were promoted as seniors. These students enjoyed their first day as seniors accepting new challenges and fulfilling their responsibilities.
Abdullah, a student of grade 12 at Newton British Academy said: “We are super excited to be promoted as seniors of our school. This year will be our last year in the school. Studies will be tough and responsibilities will be double. We look forward to study hard and fulfill all our responsibilities as being seniors.”
Suhani Rehmat, a student of eighth grade at The Next Generation School said: “First day is always interesting for us, we meet new friends and teachers. It was good experience to get shifted to senior campus. First day is mostly an introductory day for us.”
As schools started their new academic year, traffic problems also emerged on the first day to some extent. A few parents complained about heavy flow of traffic during school hours while others expressed satisfaction over opening of new roads including G-Ring Road.
A day before opening of schools on Tuesday, the Ministry of Interior and the Traffic Department had separately issued several tips and warnings to motorists and parents regarding it. The Traffic Department had urged the motorists to reduce the speed and abide by the traffic law to protect the safety of children.
Commenting of traffic, a teacher of a private school said: “Traffic is one of the most hectic part in morning and afternoon while dropping off and picking kids from school. Within a week traffic will settle down and parents will also adjust their timings accordingly.”
Apart from traffic, the teacher further said that school management had completed all necessary preparations to welcome students on the first day after summer vacations.
“We decorated school and class rooms with educational material. We arranged students’ books and managed their time table accordingly. Before resumption of classes, we had held meetings to discuss new methods and skills to deliver quality education,” she added.
