Doha, March 25 (QNA) - Assistant Undersecretary for Higher Education Affairs at the Ministry of Education and Higher Education (MOEHE) Dr. Hareb Mohamed Aljabri said that attendance statistics for the period following the resumption of in-person classes showed an outstanding level of commitment among students and faculty members, who have resumed their academic and administrative duties, which reflects the strength of the educational system and the efficiency of national institutions, he noted.

Dr. Aljabri told Qatar News Agency (QNA) that according to reports from Qatar's higher education institutions, only a very limited number of people were unable to attend in-person, these being faculty members who were abroad before the start of the current crisis and who still did not manage to come back, but who are continuing to perform their academic duties remotely to ensure continuity, as in-person learning resumes in full force.

He pointed out that these cases are mainly concentrated in a number of private universities that maintain strategic partnerships with universities abroad, pointing to the flexibility of these institutions and their high capacity in ensuring continuity in academic and research work, according to the highest international standards.

He added that there are positive indicators that show relative stability in the country's security situation.

The Assistant Undersecretary for Higher Education Affairs stated that MOEHE is in constant contact with higher education institutions during this period.

Dr. Aljabri praised the remarkable success of emergency plans and digital transformation strategies in maintaining the continuity of the educational process without interruption.

He emphasized the importance of building what was accomplished during the emergency transition by integrating e-learning tools and technological solutions into the core of in-person education within a comprehensive strategic framework.

The Assistant Undersecretary for Higher Education Affairs stressed the need to maximize the use of advanced digital infrastructure and leverage qualified national human resources that have demonstrated competence and professionalism in crisis management, thus, ensuring enhanced quality and sustainability of education under all circumstances.

Dr. Aljabri also commended the proactive measures taken by several educational institutions, which have become exemplary models in good planning and flexibly adapting to rapid changes.

He added that remote examination mechanisms will remain a strategic and available option when needed, depending on course requirements or any exceptional circumstances.

The Assistant Undersecretary for Higher Education Affairs expressed full satisfaction with these institutions' outstanding performance and exceptional capability in carrying out their responsibilities, which reflect strong institutional foundations and strict adherence to the national higher education plan.

MOEHE will remain ready to provide these institutions with all forms of support to strengthen their resilience and sustain their excellence, affirmed Dr. Aljabri, calling on everyone to respond effectively to official directives and handle them with the highest level of professionalism to achieve sustainable national development.

Regarding scholarship students, the Assistant Undersecretary for Higher Education Affairs stated that MOEHE promptly established hotlines and communication channels to maintain direct contact with students via the scholarship department and cultural attaches' offices, noting that the number of scholarship students and their situations are being followed up daily in order to provide them with comprehensive financial and moral support and ensure their academic progress is not affected.

He urged all scholarship students inside and outside Qatar to immediately contact the Ministry or relevant cultural attaches if they ever face any challenges resulting from the current crisis.

Dr. Aljabri pointed out that MOEHE is monitoring around 5,000 scholarship students both in Qatar and abroad, adding that direct support has been provided to more than 200 students studying abroad who were in Qatar during the spring break.

This support included daily phone calls and emails to coordinate and facilitate their remote studies during their stay, as well as assistance in arranging their return to their study destinations, he said, highlighting the intensive efforts put to manage this group and ensure their return, noting that the number of students currently in Qatar exceeds 200 from various countries.

Dr. Aljabri underscored the higher education sector and the cultural attache offices' ongoing coordination on reaching out directly to universities abroad in cases of delayed student return.

He pointed out that universities have responded positively to the requests of the cultural attaches and the scholarship department to prevent any academic loss, adding that more than 60 international universities have been contacted to facilitate students' studies and to make it the case that those students have a legitimate excuse for being absent, allowing them to continue learning remotely during the crisis, while coordinating with international student affairs departments to complete necessary authorization documents.

Dr. Aljabri told QNA that immediately after the crisis had began, cultural attaches were instructed to contact scholarship students and use dedicated follow-up forms and emergency contacts.

Follow-ups with students were conducted based on region, starting with directly affected countries such as the Islamic Republic of Iran, from which scholarship students were evacuated to Qatar in preparation for their relocation to other destinations, he said.

The Assistant Undersecretary for Higher Education Affairs concluded by underscoring that those students' academic stability was ensured by means of remote lectures as a temporary solution, in addition to the detailed daily reports prepared to secure their academic status across all study locations. (QNA)