Doha, May 16 (QNA) - HE former Minister of Education, Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Subaie, said Qatar's educational journey was founded on a national vision that viewed knowledge as the cornerstone of progress and development.

His remarks came during a panel discussion held as part of the 35th edition of the Doha International Book Fair (DIBF), currently taking place at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Center, in the presence of 
HE Minister of Culture Abdulrahman bin Hamad Al-Thani; HE Minister of Social Development and Family Buthaina bint Ali Al Jabr Al Nuaimi; HE Minister of Environment and Climate Change Abdullah bin Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Subaie; and HE Syria's Minister of Culture Mohammed Yassin Saleh.

During the session, which focused on his new book, "Masirah wa A'mal Munjazah" ("A Journey and Accomplished Works"), HE Dr. Abdulaziz Al Subaie reviewed the early beginnings of formal education in Qatar and the challenges that accompanied the establishment of modern schools. He also discussed the transformations the country has undergone since the 1950s, from the founding of Qatar University to the present-day expansion of the education sector.

Dr. Al Subaie addressed several issues related to culture, education and school curricula in Qatar, noting that before the emergence of formal schools, education was limited to kuttab religious schools and traditional home-based instruction. He said the transition toward modern education began during the reign of Sheikh Ali bin Abdullah Al-Thani, who adopted a vision for modern education aligned with the requirements of state-building.

He said Qatar's first education committee, composed of prominent national figures at the time, laid the foundations for formal education, leading to the opening of the country's first modern school in the early 1950s. The country faced major challenges during that period, including limited services and difficulties attracting Arab teachers, prompting authorities to raise salaries to encourage them to remain.

Al Subaie said the support of the political leadership for education was a decisive factor in the success of the experiment, noting that the former ruler of Qatar, Sheikh Ali bin Abdullah Al-Thani, strongly backed the education sector and sought to provide incentives for students and teachers while expanding schools across cities and villages.

He also discussed the beginnings of girls' education in Qatar, saying the opening of the first girls' school in 1955 initially faced broad social opposition. Nevertheless, the leadership insisted on moving forward with the project, with support from scholars and religious leaders who emphasized the importance of women's education and its role in advancing society.

He added that the initiative later proved successful, with the education of Qatari girls becoming a central pillar of social and economic development and helping expand opportunities for women in the workforce.

Speaking about the evolution of educational administration, Al Subaie said Qatar moved early to prepare national cadres, with Qatari graduates assuming leadership positions within the Ministry of Education. He also highlighted the development of adult education and literacy programs through a system of "educational circles," which accelerated efforts to eradicate illiteracy.

He said financial incentives offered to newly literate citizens played a major role in encouraging participation in educational programs, describing the initiative as one of the pioneering experiences in the region.
In another part of the discussion, the former education minister stressed the importance of preserving national identity and the Arabic language amid globalization and the expansion of diverse educational systems.

He warned against "complete dissolution" into foreign educational models at the expense of cultural identity, citing the Arabic Language Protection Law issued by HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani. 
He said openness to global experiences is important but should not come at the expense of the Arabic language and national values, calling for the development of a distinctly Qatari educational model that balances modernity with cultural specificity.

HE Dr. Al Subaie also reviewed the founding of Qatar University, saying the project initially faced skepticism from foreign reports questioning Qatar's ability to establish a national university. He said the Qatari leadership nevertheless pressed ahead, launching the institution in 1973 with the College of Education housed temporarily in converted school buildings before it expanded into one of the leading universities in the region.

He added that the university's graduates had demonstrated their competence across state institutions.
He also discussed the experience of "model schools," which empowered Qatari women professionally and achieved advanced educational outcomes, with the initiative later expanding to dozens of schools and thousands of female students and teachers.

At the conclusion of the session, Al Subaie praised the substantial support provided to the education, culture and charitable sectors in Qatar over the past decades, saying that investment in people and knowledge has long remained the cornerstone of the country's national development. (QNA)