The Minister of Education and Higher Education H E Dr Mohammed bin Abdul Wahed Ali Al Hammadi has issued a decision forming a committee for reviewing the national school curriculum.
The formation of the committee assumes importance in the context of major changes taking place in the public school system in the country.
The committee is responsible for approving the strategic plan for the national curriculum review project and take decisions on means of implementing curriculum development plans, according a statement posted on the ministry website yesterday. The committee will also decide on collaboration offers from other partners in the project. It will approve review plans in line with the general framework of the education system and the relevant recommendations.
The committee is also responsible for approval of the revised curriculum and developing plans for its implementation. Fawzia Abdulaziz Al Khater, assistant undersecretary for educational affairs of the Ministry, has been appointed as vice-chairperson of the committee, which is chaired by the Minister himself.
Members of the committee include Khaled Abdullah Al Harqan, Director of the Evaluation Institute at the Ministry, Dr Hamda Hassan Al Sulaiti, Secretary-General of the National Committee for Education, Culture and Science, Dr Mothana Ahmad Al Kubaisi, Director of the Office of Higher Education Institutes Affairs, Moza Ali Al Mudaihiki and Haifaa Naif Malaaeb.
The decision also stipulated that an expert each from Qatar University and Qatar Foundation will also be members of the committee. Mariam Abdullah Al Mohannadi has been appointed secretary of the committee.
New law to replace Independent Schools with public schools
Assistant undersecretary for educational affairs of the Ministry will establish an executive team headed by Reema Mohammed Abu Khadija, which will be responsible for administrative and technical aspects of the national curriculum review project.
The State Cabinet recently approved a draft law which stipulates major changes in the current public school system in Qatar characterised by the semi-autonomous Independent Schools.
Once the law is enforced, Independent Schools would be replaced by public schools that will be run directly by the Ministry of Education and Higher Education.
The Ministry of Education and Higher Education will organise and supervise public schools and appoint the administrative and academic staff.
