Academy for Educational Development

Students at Al-Khor Girls’ Independent Primary School actively participate in the classroom.















Qatar’s public education system is undergoing one of the fastest and most comprehensive reforms of any nation, as the country has recognized the need to invest in education to stimulate its own economic growth and development. Improving teaching practices is at the heart of Qatar’s reform efforts.









Through the Education for a New Era project, AED is overseeing a team of 21 master educators from the United States, United Kingdom, Belgium, New Zealand, and Australia who are leading professional development efforts in Qatar to improve teacher quality. This includes creating classrooms that revolve around student participation, de-emphasizing rote memorization, and training teachers on how to identify the learning needs of each individual student.









School principals are also being trained in strategic planning, effective decision making, supervision, and continuous staff development.









“The Qatar school reform movement places experts side-by-side with school staff on a daily basis in an effort to improve student achievement and school progress,” said Dr. Denise Glyn Borders, senior vice president and director of the AED U.S. Education and Workforce Development Group.











As a result of the professional development provided by AED, teachers in the participating schools have made great progress toward creating better learning environments.









“The transformation that is going on within these schools is just amazing; teachers use active-learning methods that enrich the learning process and promote more interaction among students,” emphasized May Rihani, director of the AED Center for Gender Equity. The project is overseen by both the AED Center for Gender Equity and the AED U.S. Education and Workforce Development Group.