New National Professional Standards for School Teachers and Leaders launched

H.E. the Minister of Education and Supreme Education Council Secretary General, Sheikha Ahmed Al-Mahmoud has announced the launch of Qatar’s National Professional Standards (NPS) for Teachers and School Leaders at a forum held at the Four Seasons Hotel held on May 28, 2007.

Over five hundred educationists gathered at the official launch of the new standards which added another milestone to the Supreme Education Council’s accomplishments achieved since its formation.

Being the first of its kind in Qatar and the Arab world, teachers and school leaders from Independent Schools have been informed about the standards and how they would be implemented. Officials clearly demonstrated the linkage between these standards and student outcomes.

The Minister said in her opening address that the objective of educational reforms in Qatar was to link education to the job market needs. She also said that since the Supreme Education Council was established, a lot of structural changes had taken place in the education system of the country.

She praised the setting up of Independent Schools as a pioneering step in the direction of education reforms. Director of the Education Institute, Sabah Al Haidoos said, these standards are the first of their kind in the Arab world and creates a benchmark for excellence in teaching and learning. She confirmed that the Education Institute developed the NPS in association with the Education Queensland International of Australia from January 2006 to April 2007.

Hessa Al-Aali, Director of Professional Development Office; Dr Jan Wilson, Acting Director of Curriculum Standards Office; and the guest speaker, Gary Barnes from Queensland, briefed the participants about the new standards.

See also
National Professional Standards - Creating a benchmark for excellence in teaching