Doha, January 12 (QNA) – The Ministry of Education and Higher Education (MOEHE), in partnership with the Qatar Education, Science and Community Development Foundation (QF), has announced the Sunday・Opened Warif Academy. Reduce barriers and provide equal educational opportunities in line with global best practices.
The inauguration ceremony was attended by Rolwa bint Rashid Al Qater, Minister of Education and Higher Education, and Butaina bint Ali Al Jabr Al Nuaimi, Minister of Social Development and Family, together with senior representatives of MOEHE and QF.
To mark the occasion, the Minister of Education and Higher Education highlighted Qatar’s commitment to promoting inclusivity and ensuring equal opportunities, especially for individuals with disabilities.
His Excellency highlighted that the establishment of the Walif Academy is an important milestone in this initiative in line with Qatar’s Third National Development Strategy (NSD3).
His Excellency, the Academy aims to empower students with disabilities through innovative programs, support their integration into society, and provide resources tailored towards academic and social success. said. He further said that education is a fundamental human right and the cornerstone of sustainable development, as outlined in the Qatar National Vision (QNV) 2030.
His Excellency said that Walif Academy provides educational and rehabilitation services in Arabic to students with multiple disabilities. These include developmental and cognitive disabilities, which are often accompanied by physical and health impairments that impose severe functional limitations. The academy, which caters to students aged 3 to 21, focuses on developing educational and life skills through a unique curriculum aligned with Qatari national standards.
His Excellency will provide this group of students, who have not had the opportunity to study previously for various reasons, with a comprehensive and innovative educational and treatment program that will equip them to effectively integrate into society and achieve their ambitions. He pointed out the Academy’s keenness to empower them by doing so. He said that Walif Academy’s student selection criteria are based on a comprehensive assessment at several stages by a multidisciplinary team to ensure that students’ individual needs are met in a quality manner. said.
Regarding academic programs, His Excellency said that the Academy designs programs that include academic, behavioral and therapeutic objectives, and provides therapeutic health plans and support services for the learning process, tailored to the needs of individual students. He pointed out that Warif, in its essence, is a message that conveys a deep belief in the importance of achieving equality of learning opportunities and a clear image of the principle of equal opportunity to which MOEHE and QF are committed.
His Excellency emphasized that Walif Academy is setting new standards in partnership with families and guardians, providing students with a holistic experience while meeting their unique requirements. She said the academy has received support from the Ministry of Public Health by selecting teams specialized in education and treatment areas, ensuring the provision of comprehensive care tailored to the individual needs of each student. .
His Excellency emphasized that ‘Warif’ is just one chapter in the book of tireless efforts that have been and continue to be made to empower people with disabilities. She added that the content of the book will be expanded to include other initiatives included in the framework of the Ministry of Education’s strategic program “My Special Path” aimed at increasing inclusiveness in education. .
Meanwhile, His Excellency highlighted the major project announced by the Ministry of Education last August on an electronic education voucher service aimed at providing students with disabilities with the support they need to continue their education in a stimulating environment. revealed.
His Excellency announced the automation of money collection services related to services provided to students with disabilities in private schools, as a complement to education voucher services. He said the new system will make it easier and more flexible for schools offering these services to complete the process.
Your Excellency said that the development of an education voucher service for people with disabilities would require increasing the support provided by the state due to the unique educational, therapeutic and medical needs of school pupils with disabilities, and that regional It added that this includes encouraging investors with a social mission to invest. To provide quality educational services to care for people with disabilities, to realize their potential, and to provide them with full and equal opportunities.
His Excellency said that the vouchers included three categories depending on the medical and scientific assessment of the degree of disability. The first voucher costs QR 43,000, the second voucher costs QR 53,000 and the third voucher costs QR 78,000.
Rolwa bint Rashid Al Qater, Minister of Education and Higher Education, said these initiatives stem from the State of Qatar’s firm determination to provide equal educational opportunities to all children. They are also born from the belief that ambition cannot be thwarted by hardship and that every child deserves the opportunity to learn. He said the opening of Walif Academy is a continuation of this approach and an effective link between government departments and other sectors to achieve the State of Qatar’s vision of providing inclusive education for all. He explained that it was done as an investment in a partnership.
QF Abeer Al Khalifa, Director of Pre-Enrollment Education (PUE) University, emphasized the importance of the partnership with the Ministry of Education in establishing the Warif Academy. She praised the academy’s role in providing comprehensive academic and therapeutic support for students with multiple disabilities.
Professor Al Khalifa said: “We are proud to collaborate with MOEHE to provide our students with the best learning opportunities across a variety of educational and therapeutic areas. We aim to meet diverse educational needs through specialized academic programs that take a holistic approach.” We meet the needs of all students, empowering them and helping them reach their full potential to grow, develop and learn. “Walif Academy goes beyond traditional education by providing specialized educational and therapeutic services that are meticulously designed to meet the unique needs of students with disabilities,” she said. added. She emphasized the Academy’s role in fostering an inclusive and supportive environment that ensures meaningful learning experiences. It establishes a unique model that fosters students’ personal growth, promotes active participation in society, and develops the confidence and skills needed to meet future challenges.
In response, MOEHE Director of Special Education Fatma Al Saadi said that the academy’s student selection process includes a thorough evaluation by a multidisciplinary team of experts. This process includes multiple assessment stages to ensure each student’s unique needs are understood and addressed through customized, high-quality support.
This initiative forms part of the Department of Education’s strategic plan to strengthen the educational services available to students with disabilities and their families. We adhere to global best practices and provide quality education and training opportunities that meet the aspirations and abilities of all individuals without exception, increasing student autonomy. We also encourage the private sector to provide more comprehensive and specialized education services.
Warif Academy, Qatar’s first public school, provides education and rehabilitation services in Arabic to students with multiple disabilities. These include developmental and cognitive disabilities, which are often accompanied by physical and health impairments that impose severe functional limitations. The academy, which caters to students aged 3 to 21, focuses on developing educational and life skills through a unique curriculum aligned with Qatari national standards.
To maximize each student’s potential, the Academy provides a supportive and inclusive program tailored to the needs of students with multiple disabilities who require specialized medical care in addition to therapeutic and educational support. We provide a comfortable learning environment. It features a customized curriculum and a wide range of specialized services, including physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, psychological support, and assistive technology tools to help develop functional and motor skills. These services are provided by a team of highly qualified professionals, carefully selected in collaboration with the Ministry of Public Health and supervised by experts in their fields.
The Academy will be rolled out in five phases, with the first phase starting in January 2025. Initially, the academy will have five classrooms for children ages 3 to 14, and will expand each year to accommodate students up to 21 years old. By the 2028-2029 school year, the academy will consist of 25 classrooms and will serve 150 students. (QNA)
