DOHA: The State of Qatar, represented by the Ministry of Education and Higher Education, participated in the World Education Meeting 2024, organized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in Fortaleza, Brazil, from October31to November 1.
The meeting was attended by Ministers of Education of UNESCO Member States, in addition to Ministers of Finance and other entities such as the environment, social development, science and technology, and health, in addition to representatives of international organizations and civil society.
Minister of Education and Higher Education, Chairperson of the Qatar National Commission for Education, Culture and Science, HE Buthaina bint Ali Al Jabr Al Nuaimi, headed the State of Qatar’s delegation participating in the meeting, which aims to assess progress made in achieving the targets of the fourth goal of the Sustainable Development Goals related to quality education that ensures inclusive and equitable educationandpromotes lifelong learning opportunities for all. The meeting also discussed ways to agree on new strategies to increase investments in the education sector and expand the scope of innovative financing tools, and how to accelerate progress towards achieving these goals.
The minister participated in two high-level ministerial sessions, the first of which addressed early childhood education and foundation education, while the second session focused on issues ofequitable access, quality and mobility in higher education. She reviewed the progress made by the State of Qatar in the fields of early childhood and higher education, highlighting the most prominent achievements and developments.
In the first session, the minister referred to the efforts of the State of Qatar in providing quality education at all educational levels, especially the early childhood stage, in which the State of Qatar has invested in implementing programs that focus on the child as the focus of the educational process, and developing his basic skills; such as communication, creativity, innovation and problem-solving skills, and the Ministry’s keenness to achieve continuous development to ensure quality in the primary education stage and enhance learning outcomes, through implementing methodological projects and evaluating them continuously, and optimal investment in human cadres.
In the second session, she also touched on the State’s efforts toenhance access to higher education and ensure quality, which were among the results of the Third National Development Strategy of the State of Qatar and the Education Strategy 2024-2030, by expanding educational paths and implementing programs specifically designed to meet students’ aspirations.Among the initiatives launched was the "My Journey” initiative in post-secondary education to ensure effective academic guidance for students and enhance the alignment between educational qualifications and the skills required in the labor market.
The meeting resulted in the Fortaleza Declaration under the theme "Unleashing the Transformative Power of Education – For a Future of Peace, Equity and Sustainability”. The meeting also reviewed the Global Education Monitoring Report 2024-2025, which highlighted progress towards achieving the targets of SDG 4, and provided a thematic review on leadership and education. The meeting included high-level discussions on the links between education and gender equality, and also addressed climate and environment issues, peace and human rights, early childhood care, literacy, safe schools, and expanding access to technology. It also discussed education for sustainable development and cross-cutting global issues, equitable access and quality in higher education, in addition to other topics that advance the achievement of the SDGs in the field of education.
Shealso visited the pavilion organized by the National Cybersecurity Agency in cooperation with the Ministry of Education and Higher Education and the Qatar National Commission for Education, Culture and Science at the exhibition Accelerating the Achievement of the Fourth Sustainable Development Goal held on the sidelines of the conference in order to highlight the tangible measures and initiatives taken towards achieving education transformation and accelerating the achievement of the fourth goal.
The agency presented the State of Qatar’s experience in launching cybersecurity curricula and the Eco Cyber project, which aims to enhance cybersecurity and digital safety indicators among children and adolescents, and contribute to achieving the fourth goal indicators related to providing safe and comprehensive educational environments, enhancing technology and digital transformation in the educational process, and training teachers.
On the sidelines of the participation, the minister met Minister of Education and Science of the Republic of Azerbaijan HE Amin Amrulayev. During the meeting, ways of cooperation in the field of education between the two countries and ways to develop it were discussed.