THE COVID-19 pandemic has had a great effect on all ways of life across the world this year. This includes education as schools, parents and students have all been forced to adapt to the new normal. In this context, the Ministry of Education and Higher Education (MoEHE) last week announced changes to its previous back-to-school plan for the 2020/21 academic year.
The new plan will apply blended learning during the first semester. A combination of online and classroom-based learning will be implemented in all stages of education across public and private schools, preschools and the higher education institutions.
The move came after close coordination with the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) on the necessary precautionary measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19. It aims to mitigate the academic consequences of the school closures and delay of the new academic year. Based on the new approach, students will attend to school premises one to three times a week, with a maximum attendance rate of 30 percent of school capacity per day. This will allow students to attend basic classes and conduct laboratory experiments and tests.
It is important for all schools to comply with the instructions issued by the Ministry’s Health and Safety Department on COVID-19 precautionary measures. The entry and exit of students to school grounds must be organized to maintain physical distancing and avoid overcrowding. Exception from attending classes in school include students who suffer chronic diseases as supported by an approved medical report. Students whose parents suffer chronic conditions are also exempted from attending to school to avoid the possible transmission of infection.
The Ministry, in coordination with MoPH, also issued a package of precautionary measures to ensure a safe and healthy environment in all schools and educational institutions. According to the package, all public school staff members will undergo medical examinations by the MoPH and Hamad Medical Corporation and Primary Health Care Corporation, before the beginning of the school year. All private school staff members will also be examined by private health care providers to ensure that they are free of the virus. The priority of examination will be given to teachers followed by the administrative staff.
On the same note, the Ministry, in a circular issued to the university presidents regarding attendance, said 30 percent of students will attend the campus daily from September to November, with the blended learning being deployed. Universities have been urged to take all COVID-19 protective measures in this regard. The Ministry also reminded citizens and residents to observe precautionary measures to help control the spread of the novel coronavirus.
