NHRC Launches Awareness Campaign for School Students

Doha, November 15 (QNA) - The National Human Rights Committee (NHRC) announced the launch of an educational awareness campaign for school students in the various educational stages aiming at curbing the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19). The first phase of this campaign is aimed at Qatar Academy Doha schools operating under the umbrella of pre-university education at Qatar Foundation for Science and Community Development. Head of Public Relations and Media Unit at NHRC Abdullah Ali Al Mahmoud explained that the health safety campaign in schools comes in the framework of the ongoing efforts made by the NHRC to limit the spread of the virus among students, especially after the adoption of the blended learning policy, under which the students must attend their lessons in the schools, in accordance with the precautions set by the Ministries of Public Health and the Ministry of Education and Higher Education. Al Mahmoud said that the NHRC is carrying out an awareness and educational role about the necessity of adhering to these precautions that are appropriate for all educational stages, using various means, including brochures, coloring books, short films. Al Mahmoud stressed the urgent need for school students to be consistent with these precautions in order to protect them and their families from the standpoint of the right to health for all, and preventing a second wave of the coronavirus, which has already started sweeping many countries with huge numbers of infections. He noted that the NHRC will continue its health safety campaign to cover all state schools at all stages, in coordination with the administrations of those schools, as part of its awareness and educational role and its legal mandate in the State. Al Mahmoud noted the memorandum of understanding concluded between the NHRC and the Ministry of Education and Higher Education in Oct. 2019 in order to strengthen the existing relations between the two sides in the field of spreading the culture of human rights and education, and to encourage schools to apply and integrate human rights concepts and principles. The two sides agreed to develop a plan to spread the culture of human rights in educational institutions, as well as the formation of a joint committee from both sides to propose aspects of cooperation in the areas covered by the memorandum, prepare draft programs for the implementation of its provisions, determine the parties' obligations, follow up on implementation and evaluate results, in addition to developing programs to conduct research and studies in accordance with the procedures and requirements of work agreed upon between the two parties. He explained that the NHRC had prepared an analytical research study on the right to education in the State of Qatar and in order to activate the child's right to a good quality education, adding that this concern comes in light of the interest that the government of the State of Qatar attaches to the educational process, and the endeavor to protect male and female students in times of crises, in order to continue strengthening the educational process, and for education to contribute effectively to the comprehensive development process in the country. (QNA)