Doha: The Ministry of Education and Higher Education (MoEHE) revealed that it has granted 1,404 professional licenses to academics and school leaders; including 557 licenses for Qatari individuals and 847 licenses for individuals of other nationalities.
This initiative is comes as part of its endeavor to evaluate and improve the performance and professional practices of educational cadres in schools in a standardized and fair manner, with the aim of developing the teaching and learning processes.
The licenses were distributed across various key roles within the educational sector: 997 male and female teachers, 302 subject coordinators, 60 school principals, 25 assistant principals for academic affairs, 13 deputy principals for administrative and student affairs, and 7 deputy principals for kindergarten.
Iman Al-Muhannadi, Director of the Training and Development Center at the Ministry of Education and Higher Education, stated that the Ministry seeks to build a competency-based educational system that keeps pace with international standards within a clear vision that enhances learners' opportunities and motivates them for continuous development, and that professional licensing is one of the basic pillars of this vision; by ensuring the quality of professional performance and providing a highly efficient educational environment.
This newly implemented professional licensing system is designed to achieve several critical objectives:
- Ensure high-quality professional performance in schools.
- Professionalize education and foster its development in line with national standards.
- Enhance career advancement opportunities for educators.
- Motivate and retain highly competent professionals within the sector.
- Cultivate a highly efficient and supportive educational environment.
The evaluation process for these licenses is conducted according to precise standards, encompassing key areas of professional practice:
- Planning for teaching effectively.
- Engaging students actively in the learning process.
- Conducting thorough assessment and providing constructive feedback.
- Demonstrating strong educational leadership.
- Commitment to continuous professional development.
The requirements and conditions for applying for professional licenses for teachers and coordinators vary according to the license level, starting from the novice teacher, who is required to have 3 years of experience to apply, the competent teacher/coordinator, who is required to have 6 years of experience to apply, the experienced teacher/coordinator, who is required to have 12 years of experience, and the expert teacher/coordinator, who is required to have 18 years of experience.
Application for the license also depends on the academic degree which is subject to Human Resources Department regulations, and on accredited and acquired training hours - at an average of 60 hours - for each level; in addition to fulfilling the annual evaluation requirement for the last three years.
