Doha, Qatar: As the winners of the 19th cycle of the Qatar Education Excellence Award were announced yesterday, Maryam Abdullah Al Muhannadi, CEO of the award, highlighted the growing impact of the initiative and shared insights into plans for its future development.
Speaking to media person on the sidelines of the announcement event, Al Muhannadi praised the winners, their families, and the educational institutions they represent, emphasising the collaborative effort behind each achievement.
“This cycle witnessed an unprecedented level of participation, with 371 candidates across the award’s nine categories,” she said. “We are proud not only of the number of winners, which is the highest since the award’s inception in 2006, but also of the diversity of institutions they represent, ranging from public and private schools to universities, including military and civilian colleges.”
Al Muhannadi noted that the quality of submissions has continued to rise, with judges reporting highly competitive entries that reflect years of dedicated research and achievement. “Candidates now understand that winning requires long-term effort, not just preparation for a single presentation,” she said.
Looking ahead, Al Muhannadi outlined the award’s ongoing development plan. “Every year we introduce improvements to enhance the award’s reach and impact,” she said. Recent enhancements include a new visual identity, increased financial rewards for all categories, and additional medals for master’s, doctoral, and scientific research achievements. She confirmed that further improvements will be implemented in the next cycle to strengthen the award’s role in promoting excellence.
Expanding the award’s categories is expected to attract a broader range of participants and increase the number of winners.
“This expansion aligns perfectly with our mission to embed a culture of excellence across Qatar’s entire educational ecosystem,” Al Muhannadi said.
She also emphasised the crucial role of Qatari families in supporting the award’s objectives.
“The Qatari family has become the primary pillar for nurturing talent in this programme. In the past three cycles, we have seen siblings and multiple family members win the award, showing how families play an essential role in encouraging participation and excellence,” she added.
Al Muhannadi stressed that the award continues to achieve a balanced representation between public and private schools, noting that private institutions have produced award-winning students alongside their public school counterparts.
