Sheikha Mayassa praises Qatar schools for commitment to arts, heritage and creativity
In all, 22,430 school children visited museums in the country during 2018-2019 school year
Educators at QM create programmes throughout the school year that offer a broad array of learning opportunities and connect to various subjects in the curriculum
HE Sheikha al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa al Thani, chairperson of Qatar Museums (QM), has welcomed the increase in the number of school visits to QM’s museums, art workshops and education programmes during the 2018-2019 school year.
According to data released by QM’s Department of Education, as many as 22,430 school children took part in over 680 visits, with Doha’s iconic Museum of Islamic Art being the most popular destination. In addition to visits to MIA, schools also participated in the education programmes offered by Mathaf: Museum of Arabic Modern Art, the National Museum of Qatar, Fire Station and other institutions under QM’s umbrella.
Sheikha Mayassa was particularly impressed by several government and international schools which stood out for their commitment to instilling appreciation for arts, culture and heritage among its students. The government schools which were the most active visitors to QM institutions included Al Israa Primary Independent School for Girls, Moza-bint-Mohammad Independent Secondary GirlsDoha and Simaisma Elementary Independent for Boys.
Of all the international and private schools, the most active participation and engagement was displayed by Qatar Academy Sidra, Al Jazeera Academy and English Modern School.
Sheikha Mayassa said: “Central to QM’s mission is our commitment to nurturing the young generations and offering them high-quality opportunities in the fields of arts and culture through our museums, galleries, public art and heritage sites. By inviting schools to visit our exhibitions and experience our programmes, QM enriches the educational landscape of Qatar. As our nation continues to develop and grow, it is important to have as many schools and students as possible be involved in cultural experiences, broadening their horizons. I would like to recognise these six exceptional schools and to thank their leadership and teachers for appreciating the value of educational opportunities offered in museums.”
QM’s Department of Education, which is committed to providing interactive opportunities for families, students and adults to create lasting memories and foster creativity in society, is currently preparing its programme for the new school year with the expectation that engagement will continue to rise.
Speaking about the opportunities offered to schools, Dr Jelena Trkulja, director of education at QM, said: “QM’s ambition is to provide highquality, interactive learning opportunities for communities and schools across Qatar. We hope that museums and heritage sites are being used as learning resources and places where history, heritage and art can be taught on tangible examples that students can experience for themselves. Educators at QM create programmes throughout the school year that offer a broad array of learning opportunities and connect to various subjects in the curriculum. I would like to invite all teachers to visit the QM website and download our Knowledge in Action brochure, where they can find details of all upcoming educational programmes and information on how to schedule their visit.”
As part of its education mission, QM offers custommade workshops and programmes to fit the different needs and objectives of each school visit. All educational activities encourage students to explore different cultures, artistic expressions, enriching the standard school curriculum through these offerings.