Qatar Airways has officially opened its new Oryx International School in Doha, which offers an environment “that enables a rich learning experience, providing the nurturing needed for students to become successful learners, ethical individuals and international citizens.”
A premium education facility dedicated to the children of the airline’s employees, Oryx International School “reflects Qatar Airways’ commitment to its staff by ensuring that both employees and their children receive the first-class training and education needed to excel”, the carrier has said in a press statement.
The school, located on Al Nahda School Street near Old Airport Road, is a partnership between Qatar Airways and Orbital Education.
It was opened with a ribbon-cutting ceremony led by HE the Minister of Education and Higher Education Dr Mohamed Abdul Wahed Ali al-Hammadi and Qatar Airways Group chief executive Akbar al-Baker.
The inauguration was also attended by British ambassador Ajay Sharma, Qatar Airways board director Sheikha Hanoof al-Thani, Orbital Education chairman Kevin McNeany, Private Schools Office director Hamad al-Ghali and Brigadier Ibrahim Abdulrahman al-Muftah. To mark the occasion, al-Baker revealed a commemorative plaque, which was followed by a tour of the school’s facilities.
Catering to students from Early Years through to Primary, Oryx International School is “committed to recognising students as individuals with their own unique learning needs”, the statement said.
“Qatar Airways has a commitment to its employees, and we are proud to extend this commitment to now include their children by providing them with a facility that is dedicated to ensuring they receive the highest level of education,” al-Baker said. “Oryx International School will deliver to the same standard as our airline, offering impeccable education, delivered through a strong curriculum by the finest teachers.”
Students will have the opportunity to enjoy numerous after-school activities, which will change on a termly basis, and some of these include Science Club, arts and crafts, Book Club, sport multi-skills, gardening, construction and more, all of which will be carried out in a “safe and caring environment”, the statement noted.
The school follows the National Curriculum for England, providing students with “educational breadth, balance, challenge, continuity and coherence in an interactive, participative environment”.
Also, Oryx International School is “ideally located and easily accessible” to Qatar Airways employees, with the school day planned in line with the airline’s office hours to increase convenience.
Plans are already under way for a new “state-of-the-art” 41,000sqm school campus to be built in Abu Hamour, which will house both primary and secondary students, the airline has said, adding that the “futuristic design encompasses a fully-equipped auditorium and an 11,200sqm playground, and sees that all students benefit from the most advanced technology throughout the building”. It is expected to be completed by mid-2018.
On his part, McNeany said: “We are delighted to have launched Oryx International School in Doha, in partnership with our good friends at Qatar Airways. Companies like Qatar Airways need to attract and retain the best talent and when employees are moving around the world, the availability of top-class schools is often a factor in the decisions they make.
“We wanted to make sure that, for Qatar Airways employees, moving to Doha allows them to access the finest in international education, supported by their employer and with the assurance that there is no better school in the city for their children.”
Qatar Airways senior vice-president (Human Resources) Nabeela Fakhri added: “Providing the best possible facilities and care for our staff is a priority for Qatar Airways and supporting development and learning does not end with our employees, their children, too, are a vital part of the Qatar Airways family.”
School principal Jarlath Madine said: “The opening of Oryx International School by Qatar Airways and Orbital Education is a landmark event for the airline and its employees. We aim to ensure that every student leaves the school enabled, confident and ready to take on the challenge of their next stage of life. They will have effective behaviours for learning and attitudes for life that will enable them to thrive and succeed as global citizens of the 21st century.”
One of the first projects the new school will undertake is the China Exchange – a teacher exchange programme with rural schools in China, allowing participants to benefit from cultural and knowledge interchange.