Qatar/March 03, 2021/By: QNA/Source: https://www.thepeninsulaqatar.com/

Minister of Education and Higher Education H E Dr. Mohammed bin Abdulwahed Al Hammadi expressed his thanks and gratitude to Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani for honouring and patronising the Education Excellence Award Day ceremony, with his presence and generous patronage of this award since its inception 14 years ago.

He said this showed the importance attached by His Highness to this award and his belief that education is the main engine and mainstay of sustainable development.

In his speech at the 14th Education Excellence Award Day ceremony 2021 yesterday, Al Hammadi said the Ministry had made great efforts to confront the pandemic to reduce its negative effects in the field of education, as it took the decision to implement a distance education system and the transition to this system in Qatar’s schools was smooth and easy in these exceptional circumstances.

He said this transition was implemented because they have required infrastructure of electronic platforms and digital sources, in addition to trained human cadres and students who have the skills to deal with technology, while taking precautionary measures to preserve the health and safety of students and those in schools and universities. The Minister said that despite the challenges, 374 contestants applied from private and public schools, and local and international universities.

The Minister said that 71 winners were announced, explaining that the awards ceremony also witnessed the launch of the Education Excellence Ambassadors Program, who were selected from the previous winners in order to contribute to educating and motivating students, deepening the concepts of excellence in the Qatari community, and promoting positive trends towards innovation, creativity, and scientific research among youth.

He added that despite the challenges and difficulties that the educational systems in the world faced due to the pandemic, they were able, thanks to God and then the guidance of His Highness, to overcome this crisis and were able to finish the previous school year and start the current school year, as well as to conduct the exams as per the schedule.

This is because the State believes that education is indispensable, and His Highness had affirmed in the Shura Council on continuing to focus spending of the general budget on education and health. This confirms the State’s commitment to providing an education system characterised by sustainability, innovation, quality, and diversity.

CEO of Education Excellence Award, Dr. Hamda Hassan Al Sulaiti, also expressed her happiness over the generous patronage of H H the Amir to the ceremony of Education Excellence Award and honouring the winning students. She said the presence of H H the Amir increased the happiness among the students.

Dr. Al Sulaiti said the Organising Committee of the Award held the honouring ceremony while strictly following the COVID-19 measures. “The 14th Education Excellence Award witnessed the largest batch of winners since the launch of the Award 14 years ago,” said Dr. Al Sulaiti.

She said that 71 winners have been honoured in all nine categories of the Award. “A total of 374 candidates contested for the award this year. Those whose luck did not favour them this year should do more hard work to apply for the next edition,” said Dr. Al Sulaiti. She said the Organising Committee of the Award will begin preparation for 15th edition of the award during the coming period.