Briefs · Education and Upskilling
Qatar Closed Its Classrooms Overnight — and Moved the Whole Country Online
Qatar closed its classrooms overnight — and moved the whole country online.
On 28 February 2026, Qatar’s Ministry of Education and Higher Education announced that all kindergartens, public and private schools, educational centres and universities across the country would shift to distance learning from Sunday, 1 March 2026. The move, by Circular No. (2) of 2026, applies until further notice.
The ministry called it a precautionary and organisational measure, with a safe learning environment for students, teachers and administrative staff as the priority. Schools were instructed to inform parents and students of the approved communication channels and to verify that every student could access the learning platforms.
Private schools and kindergartens suspended physical attendance; nurseries were granted official leave. Other Gulf states moved the same day, as regional tensions rose — though the ministry itself cited only precautionary and organisational reasons.
Precautionary, not panicky. A whole national school system, relocated to the internet with one evening’s notice.
Conclusion: distance learning is not a backup plan, but rather the plan — at least until further notice.
Read the original at Qatar News Agency
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