News & Event

The Arab Center for Educational Research for the Gulf States, in cooperation with the Ministry of Education in the Sultanate of Oman, implemented the training workshop on education during crises and emergencies, targeting twenty-five specialists from all sectors related to crisis management and assurance of education continuity during emergencies in the Ministry. The two-days training workshop is taking place at the Movenpick Hotel.

Dr. Said bin Saif Al Ameri, Head of the Office of the Minister of Education Office patronized the opening session of the workshop, in the presence of Dr. Mohammed Mutair Al-Sharika, Director of the Arab Center for Educational Research for the Gulf States, with the participation of a team of experts specializing in education during crises, and educational experts at the Arab Center for Educational Research for the Gulf States.

The workshop began with the Ministry of Education’s speech delivered by Hamad bin Saeed Al-Sarhani, Advisor to the Minister of Education for Administrative Affairs, in which he said: “This workshop comes at a time in which we are witnessing an increase in crises and disasters that directly affect the continuity of education and the safety of learners and workers in this vital field. In light of these challenges, the importance of the continuity of education and providing a safe and sustainable educational environment, even in the most difficult circumstances, is clearly evident in order to build a better and safer future for our students and future generations.”

He added: “The aim of this workshop is not only to understand the nature of the challenges facing education during crises, but also to develop innovative strategies and solutions that ensure the continuity of education, adapt to changing circumstances, enhance the ability to deal with crises that our educational institutions may face, discuss strategies for strategic planning and crisis management, prepare effective emergency plans and provide a safe school environment, as well as providing psychosocial support in times of crises.”

The Director of the Arab Center for Educational Research in the Gulf States then delivered the Center’s speech, saying: “This training workshop is the culmination of years of efforts, during which the Arab Center for Educational Research in the Gulf States implemented three programs on this topic. During the first program, a study was prepared on education during crises, identifying educational policies and practices that can be applied to ensure the provision of good and equitable education for groups at risk of being deprived of education, especially first-grade students, and people with disabilities. In the second program, a guide was adopted on managing education during crises in member states, and the third program focused on preparing a training package on policies and procedures for managing education during crises.’

This was followed by the presentation of the first topic of the workshop entitled “Strategic Planning and Management of Education during Crises and Emergencies”, which included three sessions presented by Dr. Wissam Al-Hasasneh and Dr. Firas Al-Omari from Queen Rania Teacher Academy in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. The sessions aim to identify the concepts related to education during emergencies and crises, strategic planning for leading education during emergencies and crises according to a global model and applying strategic planning tools.

The second day of the workshop includes the second topic entitled “Safe School Environment and Physical and Psychological Protection of Staff and Learners” which includes presenting three sessions. Theses sessions aimed at applying physical and psychological protection strategies for staff and learners in the context of education during emergencies and crises, describing how comprehensive issues related to child protection, gender, capacity, and context interact with emergencies to increase access to quality education and include all social groups, and implementing a plan to maintain the main comprehensive objectives of education in emergencies.

The training workshop aims to enhance the Ministry of Education’s preparedness and readiness in the field of education during crises, enhance its capabilities in the field of strategic planning for education management during crises and emergencies, provide workers with the knowledge and skills necessary to manage education during crises and emergencies, and ensure the provision of a safe educational environment for all students, teachers, and workers in the face of various types of risks and crises.