Maersk Oil engineer backs 'Teach for Qatar' initiative

(MENAFN- Gulf Times) A mechanical engineer at Maersk Oil Qatar (MOQ) has been engaged in an initiative that allows him to support the country by teaching the future generation.
Mohamed Janahi received the offer to teach school students last year and, since then, has been part of the Teach for Qatar (TFQ) initiative.
Launched in 2014 by HE Sheikha Hind bint Hamad al-Thani, TFQ is a local non-government organisation that aims to improve Qatar's education system. This is done through the reinvestment of professionals from various industries in the country into the independent school system.
The programme focuses on recruiting highly skilled and talented individuals, assigning them to teach at various schools in Qatar with the hope of inspiring students during a two-year teaching placement in independent schools for 7th and 8th grade students in Qatar.
"Janahi has built a successful career as a mechanical engineer at Maersk Oil Qatar. Despite the challenges and rewards of his technical work, deep down, he always had a burning ambition to teach. In 2014, he received an offer he could not refuse, to support his country and teach the future generation through a new initiative, Teach for Qatar," according to a statement.
Janahi was the first person to be seconded from MOQ to teach mathematics (one of the three core subjects in addition to English and science). His story demonstrates his "dedication to bring a change to the education system in Qatar", the statement notes.
"I've always wanted to teach. Over the years, I had been conducting presentations for employees that ranged from teaching them the Arabic language to an introduction to oil and gas," said Janahi, who was the first teacher to be enlisted in the programme and part of the first batch of teachers to be assigned roles in independent schools in Qatar.
The agreement stipulated that Janahi would teach for two years, from June 2014 until July 2016. He then began an intensive six weeks of teacher training to acquire the necessary skills needed for the role. Once completed, he began teaching mathematics to 8th graders at Al Ahnaf Independent School.
Janahi describes the experience as "life changing" despite it being the most demanding task he has ever undertaken in his career.
He has completed his first year out of two and is looking forward to the next academic year. "I would like to thank Maersk Oil Qatar for the opportunity given to me, to be seconded to Teach for Qatar, and thank the team at Teach for Qatar, who have been so supportive."