Fatima Yousuf Al Obaidli, Assistant Director of the Department of School and Student Affairs at Qatar’s Ministry of Education and Higher Education (MoEHE), emphasized the crucial role teachers play within the nation’s education system during the launch of two new policies: the Student Behaviour Management Policy and the Programmes and Activities Policy for government schools and kindergartens.
Speaking at the launch event, Al Obaidli outlined that the Student Behaviour Management Policy seeks to standardize procedures across schools by clearly defining roles and responsibilities for students, teachers, families, and school administrations. The policy is designed to foster a safe, disciplined, and supportive learning environment while protecting the rights of all parties involved in the educational process. Importantly, she clarified that the prohibition of physical punishment does not equate to tolerating inappropriate behaviour or diminishing teacher authority. Instead, the policy establishes a structured approach to behaviour management grounded in educational methods aimed at promoting discipline and respect.
The implementation framework is detailed in a regulatory guide accompanying the policy, which serves as an official reference to ensure consistency and clarity in addressing various behavioural issues. This guide outlines the involvement of teachers, school administrators, social and psychological specialists, and specifies procedures tailored to the nature and severity of each case. It also highlights students’ rights and responsibilities alongside teachers’ authority, aiming to preserve the dignity of all participants and limit arbitrary decision-making in disciplinary matters.
Al Obaidli stressed that the policy’s ultimate objective is to encourage positive student behaviour and instill values of responsibility and discipline, while simultaneously supporting teachers in their educational roles within an approved and clear framework. She noted that discipline in schools is a shared responsibility and emphasized the ministry’s commitment to safeguarding student welfare without undermining teacher status.
Meanwhile, the newly introduced Programmes and Activities Policy establishes a unified regulatory framework for the planning, execution, monitoring, and evaluation of extracurricular programmes within government schools and kindergartens. The policy seeks to ensure that activities are high-quality, safe, and tailored to meet students’ interests and developmental needs. It also aims to nurture students’ personal growth, national identity, and sense of citizenship and community engagement.
Al Obaidli highlighted that both policies underscore the ministry’s strategy to integrate academic, educational, and behavioural components of schooling. They provide clear institutional guidelines intended to support schools and kindergartens in delivering approved practices, enhancing the efficiency of programme implementation, and strengthening student behaviour management across Qatar’s education system.