Qatar Declares Tuesday Holiday for Schools Over Constitutional Referendum

Qatar’s Ministry of Education and Higher Education decided to declare Tuesday, November, 5 2024 as a holiday for all public and private schools in order to ensure maximum participation of the citizens in the constitutional amendment referendum. The announcement was posted on the ministry’s official social media pages and applies to all institutions offering education in the country, except for universities and other institutions of higher learning. This change is designed to increase the electorate’s vote, especially young people who have just come of voting age.

Holiday Declaration Intended to Increase Voters Participation

The directive is issued by the ministry for all the academic and administrative staff of schools in Qatar which shows how active the government is in promoting the active participation of the people in this important democratic process. The holiday declaration is deliberately crafted to eliminate any obstacles that could limit school staff and other students who are eligible to vote in exercising their constitutional right in relation to the election.

The decision stems from Qatar’s commitment to encouraging people to participate in the community, and self-governance especially youth. In not including universities and higher education institutions in this holiday declaration, the ministry balances the opportunity to vote together with lesser disruption of academics.

Effect on Schools

It applies to all the public and private school going institutions in Qatar and demands that all academic activities be halted for the entire day. This is made sure that all school based staff and all the eligible voters in the education sector vote in the referendum as there is no professional duty to prevent them.

But there is clear indication coming from the ministry that universities and higher institutions of learning will be at work as usual. This distinction implies the idea of differentiated approach to addressing educational disruption but serves the primary goal of enfranchisement to the constitutional referendum in the country.