Doha: The Ministry of Education and Higher Education concluded today the events of the 2025 Annual School Theater Festival, held at the U Venue Al Rayyan Theatre. The festival comes as part of the Ministry's efforts to strengthen the presence of performing arts within the educational environment, and to affirm the role of theater in developing students' personalities, refining their creative skills, and reinforcing national identity.
According to Qatar News Agency, Director of the Educational Guidance Department Maryam Numan Al Emadi stated during the ceremony that this year's festival reflects an educational vision that regards theater as a dynamic space for learning. She described theater as the essence of school life, a source of knowledge, and a free space from which students can launch their imagination and ambitions toward broader horizons. Al Emadi emphasized that school theater has become a developmental pillar that blends knowledge with artistic experience, enhancing skills in thinking, expression, and initiative, thereby supporting an education that balances science, art, and creativity.
Artist Saad Bourshid, speaking on behalf of the Committee for Script and Performance Evaluation, underscored the role of the Arts and Theater Section within the Educational Guidance Department since its inception in 1975. He highlighted the committee's recommendations for ongoing training of students and teachers, activation of theater clubs, development of partnerships with the Theater Affairs Center, and documentation of performances to benefit future editions of the festival.
The closing ceremony featured a documentary film showcasing the preliminary and final stages of the competition, which involved the participation of 16 boys' and girls' schools before the announcement of the qualifying groups. Students from the School Theater Team also performed a play that represented the State of Qatar at the Second Arab School Theater Festival in Jordan, winning six prominent Arab awards and engaging strongly with the audience.
Assistant Undersecretary for Educational Affairs at the Ministry Maha Zayed Al Ruwayli, along with Al Emadi, honored the judging committee, the cast of the play, participating teams, working committees, and supervisors who contributed to the festival's success.
The 2025 Annual School Theater Festival reaffirms the Ministry's commitment to promoting the arts in the school environment, supporting student creativity, and strengthening educational and cultural values, aligned with Qatar National Vision 2030's goal of building a society founded on knowledge and creativity.