Doha: The Ministry of Education and Higher Education has issued fresh instructions to resume blended learning in private schools giving them option to choose between blended and remote learning.

The Ministry asked the schools which are interested in resuming blended learning system to apply to the Department of Private School Affairs. However, it said that the blended learning system will remain till the end of academic year 2020-21.

This came in a circular issued by the Department of Private School Affairs at the Ministry of Education and Higher Education to private schools operating in the country.

Following the State’s plan for gradual lifting of COVID-19 restrictions and based on the request of a number of schools, the Ministry decided to return to blended learning system from May 30, 2021 under certain conditions, said the Ministry in the circular.

The conditions include that the school is allowed to decide the periods for blended learning but should not be less than four periods for the school and two periods for KG.

In another condition, the schools were asked to apply to start blended learning system in their schools to the Department of Private School Affairs not later than official timing of office on May 27, 2021.

The actual strength of presence in the building will be decided by the school for each academic level and what is compatible with the needs of each grade with focus on not increasing more than 30% of overall capacity of the building.

The schools are also required to follow the precautionary measures as announced by state agencies, said the Ministry in the circular.

Speaking to The Peninsula, a senior administrator from a private school which received the circular from the Ministry few days ago said that his school has applied to the Department of Private School Affairs for starting blended learning.

“We are keen to start blended learning in our school enabling our students to interact face-to-face with their teachers after a long gap,” said the administrator.

He said that the school wants to start the blended learning as soon as possible because the midterm exams are about to start in his school.

According to the State’s phased plans for gradual lifting of COVID-19 from education sector, the blended learning in schools with 30 percent capacity will be allowed in phase 1, which began on May 28.

In the second phase (from June 18) the blended learning in schools will continue with same capacity. In the third phase (starting from July 9), the blended learning will continue, however the capacity in schools will be increased to 50 percent.

Nurseries and childcare centres will reopen at a maximum capacity of 30 percent in phase 1 but all staff must be vaccinated. In phase 2, the capacity of nurseries and childcare will remain 30 percent.

However, the capacity will be increased to 50 percent in phase 3 while all staff must be vaccinated.

 

Source: The Peninsula Qatar