After doing a tremendous job of introducing an online education mechanism for public and private educational institutions during peak days of COVID-19 outbreak, the Ministry of Education and Higher Education has now announced its strategy for 2020/2021 academic year.
Under the plan, educational institutions will start physical learning classes from September 1 and this return to normalcy plan has also been divided into three stages to avoid any resurgence of viral infection.
As number of new COVID-19 cases is reducing in Qatar with every passing day, there are very strong chances that by the start of September the pandemic will be fully controlled in the country.
The first stage of reopening of schools will be for three days from September 1 to 3 in which the student attendance will not exceed one-third of the people in the school. The second stage will be for two weeks, from September 6 to 17, where the attendance and occupancy rate in all Qatar’s public and private schools and kindergartens will not exceed 50 percent of the students, as their attendance will be alternating during the two weeks in two groups.
The third stage is the actual start of 100 percent of students in schools and kindergartens, and this period will start from September 20, 2020 for all students in public and private schools and kindergartens.
During all stages precautionary precautions in accordance with the requirements of the health and safety department of the Education Ministry, in coordination with the Ministry of Public Health will be strictly followed. Meanwhile to make back-to-school plans successful and avoid the resurgence of COVID-19 pandemic it is the first and foremost duty of all citizens, residents of Qatar to never neglect precautionary measures needed to curb the spread of coronavirus. Adherence to precautionary measures is also being advised by health experts.
“Decline in new infections does not mean the virus has been eradicated. Therefore continued prevention and precautions are vital to avert a second wave of infections,” said Dr. Yousuf Al Maslamani, Medical Director, Hamad General Hospital.
He added: “The number of cases is falling in Qatar and we have succeeded in flattening the curve of COVID-19 because of the government instructions, preventive efforts and measures as well as awareness and cooperation of the community. Unless we follow all precautionary measures, we may experience a second wave of the virus and see numbers increasing again.”
