School for deaf children needed
Dear Sir,
It is great to hear that the Supreme Education Council (SEC) has given approval to 15 new schools and kindergartens to meet the growing demand for seats in educational institutions in Qatar. Yet more private schools are to be approved in the near future. This is all good news for expatriate families planning to move to Qatar.
But being the parent of a deaf child, I would like to point out that there is no school in Qatar for hearing-impaired expatriate students, where the medium of study is English.
The only school of this type, the Audio Learning Complex, which has indeed good facilities, uses the national syllabus and hence is not preferred by expats like us.
It would be of great help if the government looks into this matter and provide equal learning opportunities for the hearing impaired. Even though the country’s law allows deaf kids to be taught in regular schools, it would be difficult for 100% deaf kids like mine to cope there.
I am sure many other parents having deaf children share the same problem as ours.
This is forcing us to leave Qatar despite the job and other facilities we are enjoying here, since for parents like us our child’s education is much more important than anything else in this world.
Having visited the Audio Learning Complex, we suggest that the best and immediate action that the government can undertake in this matter is by starting a new class there itself with international curriculum by hiring expat teachers who are well-versed in dealing with deaf kids and by having a tie-up with a leading institution.
Qatar, striving for excellence in various sectors, always gives prime importance to the welfare of its citizens and residents. Bearing that in mind, we bring to the notice of the government, especially the Ministry of Education, that there are lots of deaf children like mine who wish to study while staying in Qatar and grow along with the country.
I would like to use this opportunity to thank the Hamad Medical Corporation and the Airport Health Centre for their excellent medical services they have been rendering to our child.
Aji Hussian Kamal
PO Box 2
Doha
Qatar’s heritage
Dear Sir,
The Chilean city of Valdivia has added seven treasures of its cultural heritage to the representative list of Heritage Treasures of the World of the International Bureau of Cultural Capitals.
Since this list was created seven years ago, many countries have incorporated their cultural heritage treasures. Among them are:
Bosnia & Herzegovina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Mexico, Paraguay, Puerto Rico, Russia and Spain.
I think it would be great to see Qatar’s cultural heritage treasures also on this List. This will promote Qatar’s international profile.
Xavier Tudela
[email protected]
