DOHA: The Supreme Education Council (SEC) will reintroduce visual arts into Independent school curricula through an innovative and interactive programme.
The programme has been piloted in five schools for grade three and four students since last September.
The pilot phase has included curriculum development, teacher training, and assessing the programme for constant modifications and improvements. The programme will be gradually expanded across all schools and all grades, SEC said yesterday.
The arts curriculum has been developed by SEC in partnership with Qatar Museums Authority (QMA), Qatar University, Qatar Foundation, and Virginia Commonwealth University in Qatar.
The entities set up a committee that has worked on the syllabi, evaluation criteria, teacher training and expansion plans.
The panel structured the curriculum on three main strands: Visual Culture and Literacy; Aesthetic Appreciation and Criticism; and Artistic Expression and Creative Production.
They reflect the wide range of artistic abilities, knowledge and mindset that can be developed within an art classroom. According to the panel, by allowing students to express their opinion on an artwork, they can learn to appreciate art for more than its aesthetic qualities.
Classroom activities will be broken down to include three main phases planned sequentially.
The first relates to knowledge acquisition. The second phase will develop learners’ critical thinking skills, where students will be provided with opportunities to critique artworks.
In the final phase, students will produce their artworks.
Local artist and committee member Suad Al Salem said, “Studies have shown that art is crucial to enhancing critical thinking and cognitive skills necessary for students to excel in other subjects.
“Artistic talent requires nurturing from an early age. We’ve focused on developing a programme that is skills-driven, allowing students to understand experiences and express them through art.”
SEC’s partnership with QMA will ensure the curriculum allows students to creatively engage with art and artistic spaces, and leverage resources available in Qatar’s museums. The Peninsula
