Ashraf AboArafe
Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, Chairperson of Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development (QF), today visited Wharf Academy, the first public school of its kind in Qatar that provides comprehensive educational opportunities and rehabilitation services in Arabic for students with severe and multiple disabilities who have not had the opportunity to attend school.
According to qna in Arabic, Her Highness was accompanied on this visit by Her Excellency Sheikha Hind bint Hamad Al Thani, Vice Chairperson and CEO of Qatar Foundation, along with a group of experts and specialists in the field of special education.
During the visit, Her Highness toured the various facilities of the academy, which was launched as a strategic partnership between the Ministry of Education and Higher Education and Qatar Foundation to support students with severe and multiple disabilities. Her Highness met with the students and learned about the teaching and rehabilitation methods used to meet their diverse needs.
Her Highness also learned about the joint efforts of Qatar Foundation, the Ministry of Education and Higher Education, and the Ministry of Health. The public is committed to developing the academy, providing specialized academic programs and a comprehensive approach to therapeutic interventions, creating an educational environment that enables students to achieve their full potential and enhances their development and growth.
On this occasion, Her Highness commented: “Caring for children with severe and multiple disabilities is a moral and social responsibility that requires us to consider such cases and develop or innovate mechanisms to address them. I take this opportunity to thank the Ministry of Education and Higher Education and the Ministry of Health for their valuable contribution to establishing an educational entity specialized in caring for children with developmental and cognitive disabilities accompanied by physical and health disabilities. The role of Wharf Academy will complement and reinforce the efforts of the State of Qatar in this sector, which cares for people with disabilities.”
For his part, Mr. Nael Mohammed, Director of Wharf Academy, said that the academy aims to provide equal educational opportunities for students who have previously been unable to attend school, through comprehensive educational and therapeutic programs aimed at preparing them for social integration and achieving their aspirations.
Regarding the academy’s impact on students, he said, “What we are witnessing is not just individual developments, but rather comprehensive progress for most students, thanks to the comprehensive and integrated treatment provided by the academy.”
He continued, “We do not only provide educational services as in traditional schools, but also specialized therapeutic programs in the fields of speech therapy, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and assistive technology.” He emphasized the vital role that assistive technology plays in transforming the lives of many students, both in terms of improving their communication skills and enhancing their quality of life. He said, “One student who constantly needed assistance with mobility was able to move completely independently just a few weeks after joining the academy, which underscores the importance of the academy in developing these students’ independence and enhancing their ability to rely on themselves.”
He added, “This year, we began preparing for the admission process for the next academic year, and as the academy continues to expand, we will add 30 students annually, bringing the total number to 150 over the first five years.”
He pointed out that student admission is based on a thorough and comprehensive assessment by a multidisciplinary team to ensure that their individual needs are met according to the highest standards.
Wharf Academy provides an integrated educational environment for students with multiple disabilities, including developmental and cognitive disabilities accompanied by physical and health impairments, requiring specialized care and advanced therapeutic and educational programs.
The academy is being developed in five gradual phases. The first phase, which began last January, included five classrooms for the age group of 3 to 14 years. It will expand annually to include age groups up to 21 years, bringing the total number of classrooms to 25, with a capacity of 150 students by the 2028-2029 academic year.
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