Doha: The State of Qatar, represented by the Ministry of Education and Higher Education and the Qatar National Commission for Education, Culture, and Science, hosted the 12th Meeting of the GCC Follow-up Team tasked with monitoring the efforts of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries in achieving Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG4), which focuses on ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education and promoting lifelong learning opportunities for all.
According to Qatar News Agency, the meeting, organized by the General Secretariat of the GCC, witnessed participation from representatives of the ministries of education in GCC countries, the General Secretariat, the GCC Statistical Center, the UNESCO Regional Center for Educational Planning, the Arab Bureau of Education for the Gulf States, and the UNESCO Regional Center for Quality and Excellence in Education.
In his speech during the meeting, Secretary-General of National Commission for Education, Culture, and Science Ali Abdulrazzaq Al Marafi praised the General Secretariat’s support for GCC teams and its commitment to strengthening integration in the education sector. He noted that the meeting represents a continuation of sincere collective efforts to monitor achievements and identify future pathways in light of the challenges facing education due to rapid changes. He emphasized the need for greater coordination and integration among GCC countries to improve the quality of education and uphold principles of equity and inclusivity.
Head of General Education at the GCC General Secretariat Abdullah Ali Al Mashal expressed his gratitude to Qatar for hosting the meeting and its excellent organization, voicing hope that the team’s efforts would contribute to achieving sustainable education goals and fulfilling the requirements of the next phase.
Advisor at the Arab Bureau of Education for the Gulf States Dr. Abdul Salam Al Joufi presented a remote intervention during which he highlighted the Bureau’s efforts in training and capacity building through specialized workshops. He also addressed the regional interim report issued by the UNESCO Institute, emphasizing the importance of focusing on SDG4 indicators in evaluation and monitoring processes.
The meeting discussed several topics, including ministerial decisions related to education, monitoring training programs and educational plans, the regional report on education indicators in GCC countries, as well as reviewing shared educational concerns and prospects for future Gulf cooperation in this field.
Member states presented their progress in achieving national benchmark indicators, alongside a presentation from the UNESCO Regional Center for Information and Communication Technology on its contributions to supporting SDG4.
On the sidelines of the meeting, team members visited Qatar Science and Technology Secondary School for Boys, where they reviewed its advanced educational practices in science, mathematics, engineering, and technology. They toured its specialized laboratories in energy, robotics, biomedical sciences, augmented reality, and virtual reality, as well as its exhibition showcasing students’ research and projects, highlighting exemplary models in supporting sustainable education.