SEC to Implement Key Strategic Projects in Education and Training Sector

Doha, June 24 (QNA) - The Supreme Education Council (SEC) has stated the implementation of 25 projects which falls within the strategic projects of the Council for the years 2011 to 2016 in the education and training sector, Head of the SEC Policy Analysis and Research Office Dr. Azeeza Ahmad al-Sa'adi revealed. In an interview with Qatar News Agency (QNA), Dr. al-Sa'adi said that the SEC strategic projects, totaled to 31 projects, are the first of its kind in Qatar in the education and training sector. She underlined the importance of the education and training strategy, which is stemmed from Qatar's national strategy for development, as it aims at developing education and improving teachers and students skills. Dr. al-Sa'adi said noted that the SEC is looking forward building an educational system that parallels the best educational systems in the world. She revealed a project under the SEC education and training strategy which aims to the expansion of compulsory education to include kindergarten and high school instead of the current compulsory that is limited to primary and preparatory schools. The SEC official said that there is a plan to open at least one new school each year to accommodate the growing numbers of students. Regarding vocational education, Dr. al-Sa'adi revealed that there are seven projects for vocational education in the strategy, in addition to a plan to provide this kind of education for females in a way that suits their nature and meets the needs of the labor market. She also pointed to the opportunities and choices which the strategy offers for the people with special needs and the elderly, noting in this context that the rate of illiteracy in Qatar declined to 4.7 percent according to the latest statistics. Speaking about the most important educational and training projects that will be implemented during the years of the strategy, Dr. al-Sa'adi said that they including a special project to prepare a comprehensive database for the education and training sector to support and assist decision makers, in addition to a project to strengthen the Qatari national values and Arab and Islamic culture through the curriculums, activities and research. (QNA)