Sheikha Mozah urges focus on policies and scientific research at first board meeting

In the Supreme Education Council’s first board of directors meeting, Her Highness Sheikha Mozah bint Nasser Al Missned urged focus on policies, comprehensive assessment and scientific research. The meeting which was held on Tuesday, March 6, 2007 was presided over by Sheikha Mozah who is also the vice chair of the board of directors of the SEC. Other board members present at the meeting include HE Sheikha Ahmed Al Mahmoud (Minister of Education and Secretary General of the Supreme Education Council), HE Dr. Sheikha Abdullah Al-Misnad (President, Qatar University), HE Sheikh Faisal bin Fahad Al-Thani (Deputy General Manager of Anadarko Petroleum Corporation), HE Sheikha Aisha bint Faleh Al-Thani (Founding Director, Doha Academy), Dr. Mohammad Salah Al-Sada (Managing Director, Rasgas) and Professor Sigbrit Franke (Chancellor of Swedish Universities). The SEC’s Institute directors also participated in the meeting.

Issues on the agenda included the role and responsibilities its executive committee and the achievements of the SEC’s three institutes – Education, Evaluation and Higher Education. The Education Institute emphasized on the number of Independent Schools which has been steadily increasing. With the launch of Group IV Independent Schools in September 2007, there will be 65 schools seating 29336 students, 51% of Qatar’s school children. Other Education Institute’s achievements discussed include the curriculum standards in Arabic, English, Science and Math). Future plans include the implementation of the national professional standards for schools, the documentation of other curricula, an early childhood strategy, individual needs strategy, the professional development system, and the building of national capacities.

Achievements of the Evaluation Institute discussed during the meeting included the administration of the Qatar Comprehensive Educational Assessment (QCEA), the development of its tools, the issuance of school report cards, and the application of a new system for Qatar Senior Secondary School Certificates for secondary students in the academic year 2006-07.

Concerning the Higher Education Institute’s accomplishments over the past two years, the board discussed the scholarship system based on statistical analysis for Qatari students who obtained scholarships in the universities at the Education City and major overseas universities. It was verified that the average number of the students who were enrolled in prominent universities to study major subjects has reached 70 per cent.

It was also noted that for the first time since the establishment of the scholarship system in Qatar, the number of female students who were enrolled in overseas universities had exceeded the number of male students.

On the increased number of students enrolled in overseas universities and how to meet the demand, the Higher Education Institute proposed that the SEC sign partnership agreements with overseas universities to reserve seats for students who are eligible to major in subjects like medicine. In addition, the Higher Education Institute confirmed that the number of students who obtained Emiri scholarships has reached 139 compared to 106 from last year.

The board discussion also covered the importance of supporting the new educational policies adopted by the SEC to enable the children of Qatar to achieve quality education for the new era.

In conclusion, Sheikha Mozah urged the officials to focus on implementing flexible policies and strategies that support the vision of the SEC set to develop according to the new changes. Her Highness also stressed on evaluating the achievements of the SEC institutes to ensure that they conform with the initiative’s objectives. She encouraged following scientific research systems to improve children’s education and qualify them to join the Education City universities and the Science and Technology park.

Sheikha Mozah also advised the members to enhance communications with all the levels of the society through all available channels to keep them informed about the achievements and future plans of the Supreme Education Council’s institutes.