None of the Qatari ministries has been exposed to criticism and observations as the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Health.
This is because both have faced so much anger and wrath from the people and the media constantly asking for improvement in the quality of services they provide, because both are deeply rooted in their activities and the future of the generations.
Eventually, they are obliged to give in to demands of the people in connection with the vital affairs of their lives, as there is no health without education, and no education without health.
We all remember the positive impact the setting up of a permanent fund for health and education has had on the public as it takes care of the two key sectors and supports providing better services.
The fund is expected to boost development plans in both sectors. It will also contribute to providing financial resources to support projects and their successful results.
It is delightful that Qatar is ranked first in health and education projects established last year across the GCC states. After all, it is the first country in the GCC to set up a permanent fund for health and education.
This is precious news, because both sectors need morale boost to confirm the seriousness of efforts made by officials to achieve results on local and regional levels.
According to a study by Dynamic Management Group that looks into activities in the two sectors, Qatar ranks top with completed projects worth $4.6bn in the education sector and $1.1bn in the healthcare sector.
Undoubtedly, the health and education fund has played an important role in achieving this result. We praise the achievements that gladdened specialists and intellectuals as they realised how much our wise leadership is interested in achieving a qualitative leap in both sectors.
The fund, founded with a capital of QR360bn ($98.8bn), has proved triggered energies and provided sustainable financial resources for health and education programmes, as both sectors are among the main pillars of Qatar’s comprehensive development.
The fund has also increased responsibilities for officials in both sectors and will show how much it will contribute to providing better services.
Both sectors carry so much of responsibility to convince citizens that their services are improving. Nevertheless, the evaluation policy of the Supreme Education Council has not come up to the level of an acceptable standard in view of parents and students.
The current policy based on ensuring effective performance by students in home work, exercises, exams, projects and passing to the next grade after mastering the required minimum skills in every subject is still a matter of slogans that lacks incentive and spirit for creativity and performance.
The health and education sectors need to be re-evaluated and their projects studied and reconsidered, however, that should not underestimate the personnel involved.
We all aim for integrated education and good health for all and that is what makes both sectors the centre of our concerns. The best reward we want is incentives from both sectors to show they are doing the best in view of the huge investments.
