Ministry distributes religious booklets

Ministry distributes religious booklets QNA/Doha The Da’wa Department at the Ministry of Awqaf (Endowments) and Islamic Affairs has distributed Ramadan bags which contain nearly 50 thousand booklets, fliers and CDs divided into five different publications related to the month of Ramadan. Director of the Department of Da’wa and Religious Guidance at the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs Mohamed al-Mahmoud said the Ramadan bags contain the booklet ‘Qutouf Al Saemeen’, Islamic Rouqia and Morning and Evening Azkar. The booklets are distributed free of charge by the Religious Guidance Section at the  Department of Da’wa.

 MoI issues guidelines on how to stay safe in fasting season The Ministry of Interior (MoI) yesterday issued a set of guidelines for the safety of citizens and residents during the Holy Month of Ramadan. The MoI has advised motorists to start well before the Iftar time and not to rush to the venue as this period is considered the most vulnerable in terms of traffic accidents during Ramadan. Residents have also been asked to avoid last-day shopping for Eid and finish it early enough so that they can avoid traffic jams and do not have to keep their vehicles in no-parking areas due to the huge rush. The guidelines state that people should take extra care on Garangao Night, which is celebrated on the evening of the 14th of Ramadan. “Children will be walking around residential neighbourhoods to collect gifts during this night. Hence, please be extra cautious while on roads and take safety measures to avoid traffic accidents,” the guidelines state. The ministry has further appealed to residents not to let their children play on internal roads in residential areas, especially at night, in order to ensure their safety. “Allow the children to play only in designated areas,” it has said. According to the MoI directives, people should ensure that roads are completely free from both sides before crossing, especially during peak hours. They also said motorists should avoid parking vehicles in such a way that may obstruct traffic movement, especially during prayer timings or Iftar gatherings. The MoI guidelines suggest that adequate care should be taken at home, including suitable measures against food poisoning and protection from fire and gas leaks, among others.

Vocational education key to economic diversification A strong vocational education system in the country is vital to achieving Qatar’s goal of economic diversification and increased rates of local participation in the workforce, an expert has said. According to Mark Andrews, regional director (Qualifications) of Pearson, a leading education company, although there has been a “negative perception” of vocational or professional education in the GCC, it is critical that governments, employers and educators work together to make it an acceptable alternative education path for young Gulf learners. “As the situation currently stands, there are just not enough suitably qualified candidates to fill a wide number of positions across all the major industries in the GCC. We need to convince young people thinking about their futures that a vocational education can lead to well paid, rewarding work and provide them with an excellent future. A quality vocational education can set someone apart in a competitive job market, because employers will recognise that person’s real-world, job orientated skills,” Andrews said.    He said the World Economic Forum’s recent report on Arab education was an “accurate reflection” of the challenges facing governments and educators in the region. The report identified underdeveloped skills, weak institutions and labour market inefficiencies as the main factors limiting competitiveness and job creation in the region. Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE were found to be the most competitive economies in the Arab World. However, these countries still faced a severe skills gap that hampers economic development. Andrews said the report mirrors research undertaken by Pearson into the causes of youth unemployment and underemployment in the Arab world. Unemployment rates amongst under-30 in some Arab countries are estimated to be as high as 30%. A key cause of these alarming statistics is the significant disconnect between education systems and the needs of 21st century employers, both public and private. “There are deep-seated problems with the skill levels of those entering the workforce for the first time. Many school and university leavers who have spent years undertaking formal education are still incapable of effectively applying their knowledge in a real-life work scenario. “In addition, many recent graduates, while possessing qualifications, do not have the capabilities employers are seeking. Industry consultation has told us that organisations across all sectors find it difficult to find employees with valuable workplace skills, such as acceptable English language, critical thinking, written and oral communication, and importantly, an attitude that allows for success in a competitive work environment,” Andrews said.