Qatar reiterated the great importance it attaches to education at the national, regional and international levels.
The State also welcomed the praise of Special Rapporteur on the right to education Koumba Boly Barry and her congratulations to Qatar for giving priority to provide quality education for all, and its strong participation in regional and international co-operation to promote the right to education, especially in the framework of the work undertaken by the Education Above All Foundation and Qatar Foundation, which has had a real impact, as indicated by the special rapporteur, on the lives of many people inside and outside Qatar.
This came in the State of Qatar's statement delivered by HE Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar to the United Nations Office at Geneva Ambassador Ali Khalfan al-Mansouri during an interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the right to education regarding her report, on her visit to Qatar.
HE Ambassador al-Mansouri extended his thanks to the special rapporteur for her visit to Qatar, which comes within the framework of the open invitation submitted by Qatar to the owners of special procedures.
Al-Mansouri praised the constructive and transparent discussions held by the special rapporteur during the visit and her effort in preparing the report that included many important issues that would contribute to supporting the efforts of Qatar in providing, promoting and protecting the right to education at the national and international levels.
With reference to the violations resulting from the blockade and the coercive measures imposed on Qatar and its citizens since June 5, 2017, especially for Qatari students who were forced to leave school and were deprived of their right to education as a result of these measures, and in light of what the government of Qatar has done to address these violations, we welcome the special rapporteur's praise for the efforts of the government of Qatar to receive and find solutions for these 531 students, he said.
He urged the special rapporteur to continue to give this subject the necessary attention, especially with regard to the right of these students to redress the damage inflicted as a result of the violations, explaining that Qatar has taken note of the recommendations of the special rapporteur and is pleased to indicate that work is already underway to implement a number of these recommendations.
This includes joining the Convention against Discrimination in Education adopted by Unesco, providing more government, community and private schools, and promoting the right to education at the international level.
Al-Mansouri said that the Qatari constitution guaranteed the right to education, as laws obligated all groups of society to education without discrimination, and Law No 25 of 2001 stipulated that education is compulsory and free for all children.
Within the framework of the strategic goals of education and higher education 2017-2020, it was emphasised to ensure the provision of equitable, diversified, and quality education for learners, regardless of their gender, nationalities, and abilities.
He continued by saying that Qatar is proud to be one of the countries that has adopted a distinguished educational system that has been occupying advanced positions in international and regional indicators concerned with the quality of education, for a number of years.
Within the framework of this educational system, Qatar has been keen on promoting the principle of equality and preventing discrimination, including gender-based discrimination.
As a result, the Qatari females have gained a prominent place in obtaining quality education and progress in all its stages. Owing to this turnout in higher education, the percentage of Qatari women participating in the labour market has increased, and Qatari women have the greatest percentage in the sectors of education, health and social work.
Al-Mansouri stated that with regard to training expat workers, building their skills and literacy, the second National Development Strategy 2018-2022 stipulated the need to focus on raising the efficiency of skilled workers in the Qatari labour market, where the Ministry of Administrative Development, Labour and Social Affairs, in co-operation with the other government authorities and in partnership with the private sector, took many initiatives to eradicate illiteracy and build the capacity of migrant workers, bearing in mind that these initiatives are directed to expat workers of all nationalities without discrimination.
This came in the State of Qatar's statement delivered by HE Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar to the United Nations Office at Geneva Ambassador Ali Khalfan al-Mansouri during an interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the right to education regarding her report, on her visit to Qatar.
HE Ambassador al-Mansouri extended his thanks to the special rapporteur for her visit to Qatar, which comes within the framework of the open invitation submitted by Qatar to the owners of special procedures.
Al-Mansouri praised the constructive and transparent discussions held by the special rapporteur during the visit and her effort in preparing the report that included many important issues that would contribute to supporting the efforts of Qatar in providing, promoting and protecting the right to education at the national and international levels.
With reference to the violations resulting from the blockade and the coercive measures imposed on Qatar and its citizens since June 5, 2017, especially for Qatari students who were forced to leave school and were deprived of their right to education as a result of these measures, and in light of what the government of Qatar has done to address these violations, we welcome the special rapporteur's praise for the efforts of the government of Qatar to receive and find solutions for these 531 students, he said.
He urged the special rapporteur to continue to give this subject the necessary attention, especially with regard to the right of these students to redress the damage inflicted as a result of the violations, explaining that Qatar has taken note of the recommendations of the special rapporteur and is pleased to indicate that work is already underway to implement a number of these recommendations.
This includes joining the Convention against Discrimination in Education adopted by Unesco, providing more government, community and private schools, and promoting the right to education at the international level.
Al-Mansouri said that the Qatari constitution guaranteed the right to education, as laws obligated all groups of society to education without discrimination, and Law No 25 of 2001 stipulated that education is compulsory and free for all children.
Within the framework of the strategic goals of education and higher education 2017-2020, it was emphasised to ensure the provision of equitable, diversified, and quality education for learners, regardless of their gender, nationalities, and abilities.
He continued by saying that Qatar is proud to be one of the countries that has adopted a distinguished educational system that has been occupying advanced positions in international and regional indicators concerned with the quality of education, for a number of years.
Within the framework of this educational system, Qatar has been keen on promoting the principle of equality and preventing discrimination, including gender-based discrimination.
As a result, the Qatari females have gained a prominent place in obtaining quality education and progress in all its stages. Owing to this turnout in higher education, the percentage of Qatari women participating in the labour market has increased, and Qatari women have the greatest percentage in the sectors of education, health and social work.
Al-Mansouri stated that with regard to training expat workers, building their skills and literacy, the second National Development Strategy 2018-2022 stipulated the need to focus on raising the efficiency of skilled workers in the Qatari labour market, where the Ministry of Administrative Development, Labour and Social Affairs, in co-operation with the other government authorities and in partnership with the private sector, took many initiatives to eradicate illiteracy and build the capacity of migrant workers, bearing in mind that these initiatives are directed to expat workers of all nationalities without discrimination.
