The Qatar National Commission for Education, Culture and Science held its annual meeting with the coordinators of the UNESCO Associated Schools Project Network (ASPNet) at Jassim Bin Hamad Hall in the Ministry of Education and Higher Education. A number of school principals, coordinators and students were honored during the event.
Dr. Hamda Hassan Al-Sulaiti, the Secretary-General of Qatar National Commission for Education, Culture and Science, delivered a speech in which she expressed her gratitudes to the ASPNet coordinators for their efforts, stressing that discussion and meaningful dialogue will give us the opportunity to identify priorities, needs and approaches to address the challenges and pressing issues at the local, regional and international levels.
“Our role in ASPNet schools is not only confined to holding meetings, seminars and awareness workshops for students, or implementing programs and projects. There are educational, media, cultural, diplomatic and moral messages, and we have to ensure that they are developed and delivered effectively to our students,” added Dr. Al-Sulaiti. She added that as we face a certain reality, we have to do our best to keep abreast of the events, issues and scientific developments surrounding us. This is aided by continuous development of means and mechanisms, training and qualifying human cadres and enhancing the capabilities of our bodies.
Dr. Al-Sulaiti further noted: "It is my pleasure to present to you in this honorable meeting a tribute of pride and appreciation for your unlimited performance and sincere efforts throughout the past academic year. We cannot but hail your relentless follow-up in the implementation of programs and projects that have greatly contributed to raising students' awareness of many issues of belonging and loyalty, tolerance and dialogue with others, cultural diversity, maintaining a clean environment, and other issues related to international affairs, which open the minds of students to what is happening around us, and what is being discussed by world organizations in international forums.
Ms. Hessa Al-Dosari, The National Coordinator of the UNESCO ASPNet, spoke to the coordinators and students of the network and thanked them for their cooperation and commitment to implement the network's programs, announcing the activation of a school awareness program to promote the 17 sustainable development goals declared by UNESCO. These 17 objectives are poverty eradication, hunger elimination, food security, improved nutrition, promotion of sustainable agriculture, ensuring a healthy life and promoting well-being for all age groups, ensuring universal and equal quality education and enhancing lifelong learning opportunities, as well as gender equality, empowerment of all women and girls, ensuring abundance and sustainable water and health management for all.
Ms. Hessa Al Dosari pointed out that the program, which will be launched by Qatar National Commission in this academic year, will focus on the fourth objective on education, whose sub-objectives are to educate students, teachers, administrators and the community through various activities. The program aims at helping students achieve sustainable development goals, linking these goals to Qatar Vision 2030, and actively engaging in various activities.
Ms. Al-Dosari noted that photography and drawing competitions will be organized during the current academic year, preceded by related training workshops. Each school will nominate five distinguished students for the photography and drawing contests.
At the end of the meeting, Dr. Hamda Al-Sulaiti honored a number of school principals, coordinators, and students in recognition of their efforts over the past year.
