DOHA: As Eid Al Adha holidays ended and Independent Schools reopen tomorrow, the Education Minister is likely to make surprise visits to some schools.
The aim is to see how his directives to crackdown on student absenteeism are being followed and whether school managements are prepared to act tough on absentees.
Alarmed, many schools have sent text messages on mobile phones to parents, urging them to ensure their children don’t miss out on school on the day its reopens.
The Minister of Education and Higher Education H E Dr Mohamed bin Abdul Wahed Ali Al Hammadi is likely to make surprise visits to some Independent Schools tomorrow.
Al Sharq reported that it had learnt from reliable sources that the Minister’s visits aim at ensuring his instructions to schools to curb student absenteeism are being followed.
Al Hammadi is also ex-officio Secretary-General of the Supreme Education Council (SEC), the regulator of all government and private schools.
He issued directives early last month that students of grades four to 12 of Independent schools who are absent for unjustifiable reasons for a specified number of days must be punished.
They are not to be allowed to take periodical assessment tests in all subjects if they are absent without any acceptable reasons.
School managements, according to Al Sharq, have adopted zero-tolerance policy towards student absenteeism.
School operators have also asked teachers to be punctual and be present on the first day after the schools reopen. Student absenteeism has been a major problem in Independent schools.
The Peninsula
