Special Needs Schools
Special needs education has been an area which received exceptional attention and support since the inception of educational reforms in the country at the start of the 21st century. Education and Training Sector Strategy 2011-2016 makes special mention for the educational facilities development for students with additional education support needs (AESN). The policy paper emphasizes that need to integrate people with learning disabilities or special needs into the mainstream as contributing member of society.
As part of National Vision 2030, investments into facilities and infrastructure have been made to offer universal access to the entire population, including the people with special needs. Additionally, students with AESN are offered special education with a view of fulfilling their learning potential and preparing them for employment, so that they can contribute toward the attainment of the National Vision 2030 and beyond.
Awsaj Academy, previously known as The Learning Centre, is a Qatar Foundation backed initiative equipped to offer the best facilities and resources for students with AESN. Students are prepared to tackle the real-life problems that they will face with a hands-on experienced based learning system where students get the opportunity to hone their skills for practical life. They are prepared to become responsible and contributing members to the society through confidence-building activities as part of their curriculum.
Awsaj Academy offers primary and secondary-level education to the students with special educational needs. Apart from Awsaj, there are several other educational centers which cater to the special needs of AESN students, including Step By Step Centre for Special Needs, HOPE Qatar Center for Children with Special Needs, Doha International Centre for Special Needs, Qatar Institute for Speech and Hearing, Qatar Institute for Speech and Hearing, Qatar Autism Centre, and Shafallah Center for Children with Special Needs.