Doha, March 28 (QNA) - The Ministry of Education and Higher Education announced that all preparations have been completed across public and private schools to resume in-person classes starting Sunday, following completion of comprehensive arrangements aimed at preparing a suitable school environment to receive nearly 417,000 students and ensure smooth and stable continuation of the educational process. These proactive measures supported the continuity of learning under various circumstances.

In a statement issued on Saturday, the ministry said the General Services Department played a central role in preparing school buildings and facilities by completing preventive maintenance and verifying the efficiency of operational systems and technical services, contributing to a safe and stable learning environment that supports the regular school day, in addition to ensuring the readiness of service providers in line with approved standards.

In this context, Director of the Public Relations and Communication Department, Maryam Abdullah Al Mohannadi, affirmed that the resumption of in-person learning was the result of integrated efforts across various sectors of the ministry and continued coordination with relevant national authorities. This, she noted, helped strengthen confidence within the school community and created the appropriate conditions for students to return to classrooms smoothly and regularly.

She added that close and high-level monitoring will continue to ensure sustained readiness and rapid response to any developments, supporting the stability of the educational process and the safety of students, as well as teaching and administrative staff.

As part of efforts to enhance safety and security, the General Directorate of Civil Defense organized awareness workshops last week on safety guidelines in emergency and exceptional situations. Held over four days at the Officers Club, the sessions targeted school principals, their deputies, and safety officials in public and private educational institutions, benefiting around 1,200 participants. The workshops focused on unifying response procedures when receiving alerts through the national warning system and organizing evacuation or shelter operations to enhance the safety of students and staff.

In support of professional readiness, the Training and Development Center organized "Irtiqa 3" training forum last Thursday via Microsoft Teams, with the participation of 9,686 school leaders, teachers, administrators, and coordinators. The forum focused on integrating leadership and educational roles, enhancing psychological resilience, and strengthening operational organization to support a stable learning environment and the sustainability of effective education.

To further strengthen safety systems within schools and during student transportation, the Health and Safety Department circulated regulatory guidelines related to safety and security procedures in emergency and exceptional situations, helping standardize response measures and raise preparedness levels to safeguard students and staff.

In terms of educational and psychological support, the ministry's Schools and Student Affairs Department held a meeting with administrative deputies and psychological and social specialists to review mechanisms for receiving students and preparing them to return to the school environment after recent circumstances, as well as ways to support their mental well-being and foster a motivating learning environment.

Regarding preparatory arrangements for the resumption of in-person learning, the Private Schools and Kindergartens Department and the Private Schools Licensing Department implemented a package of regulatory and awareness measures. These included verifying compliance with safety requirements, ensuring the stability of teaching staff and continuity of student learning, and enabling schools to respond flexibly to operational and educational challenges in line with approved regulations. National guidelines and directives issued by relevant authorities were also circulated to support regular schooling in a safe and stable environment.

The ministry concluded by emphasizing the important role of parents as key partners in supporting student attendance and reinforcing adherence to safety guidelines and instructions within school buses and educational facilities, contributing to a culture of awareness and prevention, and enhancing overall school safety.

These integrated efforts reflect the level of coordination achieved between the ministry's sectors and relevant entities, helping to provide a safe and stable learning environment and promote the sustainability and quality of education in support of the objectives of Qatar National Vision 2030 in building a flexible education system aligned with future needs. (QNA)