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By Amna Pervaiz Rao & Lojayn Motaz Eissa
DOHA: Qatar started the new academic year yesterday, with the Independent and private schools resuming classes after the long summer break and the city going back to its usual hustle and bustle.
As the city witnessed heavy traffic during peak hours yesterday, the Ministry of Education and Higher Education has instructed schools to take special care about the safety of children in school buses. A circular was sent to Independent schools in this regard.
The Minister of Education and Higher Education H E Dr Mohammed Abdul Wahid Al Hammadi visited a number of Independent schools yesterday. Some Independent schools reported around 70 percent attendance on the first day, while it was higher in most private schools.
The ministry as part of its new disciplinary rules, has issued a strong warning to students against abstaining from classes in the following days.
“Preparation for the new academic year was based on studies conducted on past years’ experiences and we focused on administrative, organisational an academic aspects, with the aim of improving quality and academic achievements. We have managed to fill all teachers’ vacancies (in Independent schools) with qualified hands and benefitted from local talents,” said Fouzia Al Khater, director of Education Institute at the Ministry.
Life was hectic in a girls’ Independent school in the airport area when The Peninsula visited its premises early morning yesterday. Parents were busy collecting the text books for their kids and making arrangements for transport in school buses. Some were a bit annoyed as it took time to get things organised, being the first day.
“The first week will put too much pressure on the parents’ pockets, in terms of school expenditure,” lamented a Qatari parent.
“We are trying to create the safest environment for students by keeping all facilities intact,” the supervisor of the school told this daily. She said in the first week, there will be a lot of emphasis on students discipline to get the students acquainted with the rules and regulations. A teacher at the Al Maha Academy, an international school located in Ain Khaled said, children were so excited on the first day and some came even before the teachers arrived. The school offered refreshments to parents who accompanied their kids.
Sana Salman, a mother of two daughters studying at American School Doha said, “Attendance was full on the first day. Different activities took place at the school to cheer up children and gear up for a new start. The students were enthusiastic attending the school after a long summer break.”
Nargis Raza, principal of Pakistan Education Centre (PEC) said:
“There was heavy traffic at Abu Hamor in the morning since many schools are located in the same place. Attendance was over 50 percent. It wasn’t full, because many families have not yet returned from vacation. The staff was geared up for a fresh start and the children were in high spirits in their classrooms.”
The Next Generation School (TNG) CEO Shagufta Bakali said: “ We were delighted to see the happy faces of children. Attendance was fairly good. Heavy traffic made some students come late and the school buses also arrived late. We scheduled the school time with a gap of 10 minutes as we knew that many children won’t make it on time on the first day.”
The Peninsula
