Ministry of Education: Success in testing the activation of 'TIMES' for one hour

The Ministry of Education activated the “Teams” platform this morning for one hour across all elementary, intermediate, and secondary school levels to conduct remote classes according to the approved schedules for each stage, aiming to assess readiness to handle this mode of instruction when needed. The Ministry stated that the trial seeks to verify the preparedness of schools, educational staff, and students to use the platform for delivering electronic classes, and to ensure the effectiveness of the technical and organizational procedures related to remote education. It also aims to identify any obstacles faced by students or teachers during class implementation, in preparation for addressing them and enhancing the efficiency of the e-learning system.

The Ministry noted that Education Minister Jalal Al-Tabatabai interacted with students by attending three classes conducted via the platform at several schools. He monitored the remote education process, observed how students interacted with teachers, and checked the regularity of classes according to the set schedules. This step reflects the Ministry’s interest in assessing the readiness of the educational system firsthand.

The classes attended by Minister Al-Tabatabai included a Social Studies lesson for the seventh grade, section 7-3, at Al-Faiha Intermediate School for Girls, taught by teacher Sara Al-Musbah; a Constitution lesson for the twelfth grade at Jassem Al-Kharafi Secondary School, taught by teacher Issa Al-Hafiz; and an English language lesson for the eleventh grade at Fahad Al-Salem Boys’ Secondary School, taught by teacher Badr Al-Abdullah. The minister interacted with attending students by exchanging questions and inquiries with them and monitoring their participation during lessons, which allowed for an assessment of the nature of educational interaction via the platform and the ability of teachers to continue delivering educational content and communicate directly with students in the e-learning environment.

Monitoring the three classes attended by Al-Tabatabai showed that the targeted classes did not encounter any problems during the implementation of remote classes, allowing them to proceed according to the specified mechanism. The minister emphasized the importance of continuing to monitor field observations and utilizing them to develop the trial and improve the technical and organizational preparedness of schools.

Minister Al-Tabatabai directed school administrations to follow up on any obstacles students might face during the trial period, work to identify and address them, and stressed that activating the platform is part of a one-day trial aimed at verifying the effectiveness of delivering remote classes and identifying any potential problems to be addressed and resolved in the future.

Al-Tabatabai praised the positive cooperation of parents and their keenness to follow up with their children and support their participation in virtual classes. He also commended the efforts of teachers and school administrations in providing a suitable educational environment and ensuring the success of the trial, emphasizing that this integration between family and school reflects a spirit of shared responsibility and commitment to maintaining the continuity of the educational process efficiently.

He stressed the necessity of being prepared to shift to remote education at any time as circumstances dictate, ensuring the continuity of the educational process and preventing it from being affected by any developments. He underscored the importance of coordinated efforts among school administrations, educational staff, and relevant authorities, and of leveraging the trial’s results to enhance the resilience of the educational system and its ability to continue fulfilling its mission under various conditions.