Qatar updates school policies to support students and teachers

Fatima Yousuf Al Obaidli, Assistant Director of the Department of School and Student Affairs at Qatar’s Ministry of Education and Higher Education, explained new policies designed to improve the learning environment in the country’s schools and kindergartens.

Al Obaidli affirmed that the Student Behavior Management Policy and its regulatory guide will standardize practices and strengthen collaboration between students, teachers, families, and schools.

The Ministry of Education launched these policies alongside the Programs and Activities Policy, intending to create a unified framework for school programs. The new Student Behavior Management Policy prohibits punishments in schools, but Al Obaidli clarified that this change does not mean the Ministry will tolerate misbehavior. Instead, the policy establishes a structured system for addressing behavior through educational methods that promote discipline and protect the rights of everyone involved.

Student safety, teacher status, and protecting rights are all priorities for the Ministry, and all decisions are based on educational and scientific principles. The regulatory guide details roles, responsibilities, and procedures for handling behavioral issues, starting with teachers and administrators and extending to specialists. It also outlines students’ rights and responsibilities and defines appropriate educational measures. Al Obaidli stated the goal is to encourage positive behavior and strengthen students’ values, while providing teachers with support to carry out their duties.

The Programs and Activities Policy seeks to deliver high-quality, safe activities that consider students’ needs and develop their skills and national identity. The Ministry believes that a safe and integrated educational environment depends on respecting all parties, protecting students, supporting teachers, and empowering parents as partners in education.