MoEHE outlines priorities for school learning resource centres

Doha: The Ministry of Education and Higher Education (MoEHE) convened its inaugural forum for learning resources coordinators for the 2026-2027 academic year, on September 13-14, to discuss the latest advancements, priorities, and best practices for enhancing the impact of school learning resource centres on education and fostering a reading culture among students.

Organized by the Curriculum and Learning Resources Department, the forum's objectives included aligning strategies, clarifying roles, and improving coordination with educators, while providing coordinators with platforms to share insights and enhance the services they provide.

Sara Al Shuraim, director of the Curriculum and Learning Resources Department, noted that the forum is a continuation of the Ministry's ongoing dialogue with the educational community and its commitment to coordinating efforts and informing learning resources coordinators about the newest developments, programs, and initiatives.

She stressed the Ministry's dedication to transforming learning resource centres into supportive educational and cultural environments that augment classroom learning, promote reading, and grant students and teachers access to a wealth of knowledge resources.

Maha Bahloul, head of the Learning Resources Section, emphasized the critical role of coordinators as primary collaborators in elevating the standing of learning resource centres within schools. The forum aimed to establish a clear roadmap for the year's work, strengthen integration with school curricula, and activate the centres' services, programs, and activities to optimize benefits for students and teachers.

The discussions centered on the multifaceted roles of learning resource centres, including their educational, informational, cultural, and recreational contributions to curriculum delivery through integrated lessons aligned with academic subjects. The importance of activating borrowing and circulation services, as well as participating in school and community events and reading competitions, was also underscored.

Coordinators were briefed on methodologies for implementing guidelines for integrated lessons, which detail organizing lesson delivery, leveraging supplementary resources, and achieving learning objectives through defined procedures, responsibilities, and quality metrics.

The forum unveiled the eighth edition of the Reading Olympiad, detailing key activities such as the "Read and Express" competition and Reading Hour, accompanied by procedures and requirements for schools to participate. Moreover, the coordination of schools and students' involvement in the 11th season of the Arab Reading Challenge and mechanisms for tracking participation were addressed. The initiative seeks to bolster schools' endeavors to cultivate a reading habit and deepen students' engagement with the Arabic language.