The schools are set to open tomorrow under a blended learning model as announced earlier by the Ministry of Education and Higher Education. The Ministry in coordination with other ministries and state organisations has ensured safe return of students to schools — both public and private schools — with its officials inspecting schools’ preparations according to guidelines issued by authorities.
Not only the old schools are opening but also some new schools will also open during the academic year 2021-22. The Ministry of Education and Higher Education in collaboration of Ministry of Public Health has finalised arrangements to receive students under strict COVID-19 preventive measures and protocols. To counter new strains of COVID-19, particularly Delta variant, a blended learning system with rotation attendance of 50 percent as per school’s capacity has been decided to be implemented in schools.
Meanwhile, to cater the growing number of students, the Ministry of Education and Higher Education has announced that 16 new private schools and kindergartens are expected to open during the academic year 2021-22. The opening of new schools will add 8,870 seats to the current capacity. The number of existing private schools and kindergartens in the country already is 328 which are offering different international curricula.
According to Ministry’s figures, a total of 203,939 students from 85 nationalities are enrolled in 328 private schools, 33 percent of whom are Qatari students. To make schools safe during physical classes, the Ministry of Public Health has already vaccinated over 90 percent teachers and other staff. Over 70 percent eligible students (aged 12 to 16) have also received at least one dose of the vaccine.
The Ministry of Education and Higher Education has also decided in line with the precautionary measures to make it mandatory for students from grades 1 to 12 to wear masks throughout their presence in schools premises.
Senior officials of the Ministry of Education and Higher Education recently visited a number private schools and kindergartens to check their preparations for welcoming students ahead of the beginning of new academic year and expressed their satisfaction over arrangements in place.
The Ministry of Education and Higher Education has also announced the bubble arrangement at schools which medical experts believe can act as an effective preventative measure to help reduce the potential spread of COVID-19 virus within schools.
“Maintaining distinct groups or ‘bubbles’ that do not mix makes it faster and easier in the event of a positive case to identify who needs to self-isolate and keeps as many children as possible in school,” said Dr. Jameela Alajmi, Executive Director Infection Prevention and Control at the HMC.
