Minister exhorts students to aim for brighter future

HE the Minister of Education and Higher Education, Saad bin Ibrahim al-Mahmoud, has called upon the country’s youth, especially students, to continue their efforts and overcome hurdles in order to build a bright and promising future for the country. The minister, who is also the Secretary General of the Supreme Education Council (SEC), made this call while addressing students from Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar and SEC’s partners and stakeholders in the education and training sectors. Outlining the role of education and training in shaping the careers of future generations, al-Mahmoud hoped these would contribute in a big way to the fulfilment of goals and objectives enshrined in Qatar National Vision (QNV 2030). The QNV 2030, he said, was developed under the wise leadership and guidance of HH the Emir, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, and was the result of detailed deliberations, comprehensive planning and thorough analysis involving top professionals from different walks of life from across the world. “It involves long term national goals and values sought by Qatar, and revolves on the four development pillars of human, economic, social and environment,” pointed out the minister. The main aim of the QNV 2030 is to place the country among the most developed nations of the world capable of achieving sustainable development and provide a decent living to every individual, said al-Mahmoud. The minister recalled that the State undertook extensive studies and detailed consultations after launching the QNV 2030 and they all eventually led to the beginning of the five-year National Development Strategy (QNDS) in March 2011. The QNDS, he said, is a document that reflects the country’s priorities for sustainable development. Highlighting the role of quality higher education, al-Mahmoud said it would help nationals achieve their long-cherished aspirations and enhance their personal capacities while discharging duties. “It would also help them keep pace with the global progress based on knowledge-economy,” the minister told his audience. The speaker said the strategies for the country’s education and training sectors have been developed after elaborate consultations with some of the key internal and external partners at different levels. “The strategic plans and project roadmaps have been aligned with all strategies of K-12 and higher education to be in line with the plans of other institutions. They would also serve as a crucial pathway to realising the goals and objectives of the Qatar National Vision 2030”. Al-Mahmoud also recalled the circumstances that led to the restructuring of the educational system in the country to suit the requirements of the labour market. “All these efforts to realign the K-12 education, higher education and vocational education are effected to meet the growing needs of the labour market, in the process to ensuring the successful implementation of the country’s education and training strategy” said the minister. The director of the Office of Programme Review and Audit at the SEC, Scott Hill, explained how educational and training strategies have been implemented at different levels over the past decade since the SEC was set up. He also deliberated on how the community is benefitted from the SEC initiatives. The SEC official minced no words while asserting that the national education and training strategies are developed not by chance but after detailed deliberations at different levels. “It involved several years of tireless efforts by different people,” he said. Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar dean Dr Ilker Baybars introduced the two speakers and drew attention to the significance of the lecture series, specifically for the university and all those associated with its activities. From GT