Ministry intensifies inspections at schools to ensure compliance with COVID-19 precautionary measures

Following an upward trend in the number of active COVID-19 cases in Qatar, relevant authorities in the country have scaled up efforts to curb the spread of the virus.

Earlier this month, the Supreme Committee for Crisis Management announced a four-tier plan to re-impose COVID-19 restrictions, urging the community to play their role in following the necessary preventive and precautionary measures.

One of the top priorities for the country, amid the COVID-19 pandemic, has been to ensure the continuity of education for students in a safe and secure environment.

Since the blended learning approach was adopted in schools, Qatar’s Ministry of Education and Higher Education (MoEHE) and the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) worked together to train members of the health and safety committees in schools to implement the required precautionary measures against COVID-19.

MoEHE has now intensified its inspections and surprise visits at public and private schools to make sure the institutions are following the recommended measures laid out by MoPH.

Officials from MoEHE’s health and safety department as well as from MoPH have begun conducting these inspections.

According to a statement by MoEHE, most schools have been complying with the precautionary measures. However, some schools have failed to do so.

#سلامتك_هي_سلامتي | حرصاً على توفير بيئة مدرسية صحية وآمنة للطلبة والطاقم التعليمي والإداري، كثفّت الوزارة حملاتها التفتيشية على المدارس الحكومية والخاصة، للتأكد من مدى تطبيق الاجراءات والتدابير الاحترازية الموصى بها واحالة المدارس المقصرة للتحقيق الداخلي.https://t.co/NKzZAk4hnF

— وزارة التعليم (@Qatar_Edu) February 15, 2021

Among the measures not being followed properly are, “failure to wear masks in the correct way, failure to measure the temperature of students before entering the school, failure to adhere to the safe distance between individuals, or the lack of sterilization tools,” the Ministry said.

“The non-complying schools were referred for internal investigations to be conducted by the Ministry. Penalties were imposed on a number of schools in commensuration with their violations of the precautionary measures set out to combat the spread of COVID-19,” the Ministry highlighted.

MoEHE also highlighted that several schools have been temporarily closed “as a result of COVID-19 cases identified among students and teachers.”

Students in these schools will study remotely during the temporary closure.

The Ministry said it has referred these schools for internal investigations to look into the causes and sources of the infection. Relevant administrative penalties will be imposed on them.

The Ministry said it has been coordinating with MoPH “to complete the stages of vaccination of educational staff in all Qatari schools, who have the highest priority in vaccination now.”

It also urged everyone to get vaccinated, calling it “the main pillar in the prevention and protection from this virus.”

Community members, parents, students, teachers and administrative staff must remain committed to the precautionary measures to ensure everyone’s safety, the Ministry stressed.

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Cover Image: for illustrative purposes only

Source: MoEHE