The inauguration ceremony, attended by top officials of various organisations, was conducted in strict observation of precautionary guidelines against Covid-19.
After formally inaugurating the school that started its teaching and learning process last September enrolling students for the classes from KG to Grade-2, the dignitaries toured the premises and classrooms. The minister and the ambassador talked to some tiny tots while visiting the classrooms.
His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani granted the school premises to the Ethiopian community during the official visit of the then prime minister Hailemarian Dessalegn to Doha in 2017. This grant is one of the tangible proofs of the strong bilateral ties between the two sisterly countries, said a statement from the Ethiopian embassy in Qatar, it was pointed out.
Minister of Education and Higher Education HE Mohamed Abdul Wahed
Ali al-Hammadi, Ethiopian ambassador to Qatar Samia Zekaria and other dignitaries during the inauguration of the Ethiopian Community
International School yesterday.
In her welcome speech, ambassador Samia Zekaria said: “Ethiopia has enduring historic and people-to-people relations with the Arab world including Qatar. According to the exchange of high level visits over the last few years, the ever-growing bilateral relations in the political and social fields are evident and there is a need to further deepen the economic relations commensurately.”
Regarding the bilateral co-operation in education sector, the ambassador said: “As a part of the growing relations, the co-operation in the field of education is gaining momentum. Our two countries have signed a memorandum of understanding in the fields of education, higher education and scientific research in April 2013.”
“The Qatar government’s continued support for the Ethiopian expatriates is commendable. The support provided to our community both by the government and non-governmental organisations during the Covid-19 outbreak is a recent memory. The grant of this community school is the most essential support that we got from the government. It will be a living moment to cherish our solid bilateral relations.”
Sharing the positive response of the Ethiopian community to the opening of the school, Zekaria said: “Since the news of the establishment of the school two years ago, the Ethiopians in Qatar have eagerly been waiting for its opening. The school will be a big relief to the expatriates as many Ethiopians have to send their children back home for studies in the absence of an affordable school offering Ethiopian curriculum. Currently we have over 20,000 expatriates here. Therefore, I am delighted that the opening of the facility represents a tangible contribution to community stabilising familial life.”
Highlighting the role of Qatar’s Ministry of Education and Higher Education, she said: “The ministry has played a vital leadership and facilitating role in realising the establishment of the school. The ministry, on its own, has renovated the facility with the budget of QR6mn.”
Thanking other organisations for their support, she added: “On the other hand, the Ministry of Endowment (Awqaf) and Islamic Affairs, Qatar Charity, Qatar International Islamic Bank, and Al Sulaiteen Group have furnished and donated to run the school.” The ambassador also handed over appreciation certificates to the representatives of these organisations during the ceremony.