A/HRC/44/39/Add.3 14. Referring to what was stated in paragraph (11), Article (50) of the Constitution guarantees the right to freedom of thought, belief and religion, as this article states that “Freedom to practice religious rites shall be guaranteed to all persons in accordance with the Law and the requirements of the maintenance of public order and morality”. 15. The State of Qatar ratified the Convention for the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions under the Emiri Decree No. 27 of 2009 dated 23.06.2009, and the Convention on the Child under Emiri Decree No. 54 of 1995 dated 12.07.1995. According to Article (68) of the permanent constitution of the State of Qatar, the treaty or agreement shall have the power of law after ratification. 16. Religious freedom is one of the human rights guaranteed in the educational system in the various educational levels in the State of Qatar. Since Islam is the official State religion, it is taught in all government schools while promoting the concept of respecting other religions, provided no religion or belief is disrespected. Moreover, Non-Muslim students in public (government) schools are not required to attend Islamic studies classes, and teachers are directed to develop alternative plans for these students to develop linguistic skills and artistic talents. 17. The same situation is applied in private schools in which Qatari and Muslim students are taught Islamic studies without obliging non-Muslims to attend the classes while offering Islamic studies as an optional subject for non-Muslims, provided that the student's parents/guardian provide written consent. As the State of Qatar hosts a large number of private and international schools, the Ministry of Education allows community schools and schools affiliated with embassies to teach Islamic studies while following the national curriculum applied in their countries. The system of education applied in the State of Qatar is similar to education systems applied in most countries of the world. B. The School system in the State of Qatar: 18. Referring to what was stated in paragraph (32) in the framework of responding to the Qatar National Vision 2030 and the education and training sector strategy, the Ministry of Education and Higher Education launched the general framework for national education, which identified six basic principles that underpin the educational curriculum, namely excellence, inclusion (education for all), openness and flexibility, balance, importance and relevance, complementarity and cohesion. 19. The educational curriculum achieves the principle of inclusion (education for all) in terms of providing equal opportunities for all learners, regardless of individual differences, including different modes of learning and special needs. It also achieves the principle of openness and flexibility in terms of opening up new possibilities for teachers to be innovative, and provides options for schools and various learning paths for learners at the level of curriculum content, the depth of knowledge and learning focus (academic or professional), and takes into account new or emerging issues. 20. Referring to what is mentioned in paragraph (33), the Ministry of Education issues annually the activities plan for government schools and gives authority to each school to choose the programs and activities appropriate to them. This system is flexible, as each school can choose a number of activities not exceeding 12 activities and not less than 6 Activities to ensure quality planning and follow-up for each school as well as relevance to age groups of students, the characteristics of student development, and diversity and inclusion in the selection of activities. The Ministry is keen to provide safety and security requirements, taking into account not the fact of to affecting class hours and the progress of plans and lessons. It is worth noting that in case a school addresses the Ministry to implement any activity that the school deems appropriate and serves educational goals; even if it is not included in the activities plan, it should be approved by the Ministry. This denies stringency in decision making with regard to school activities in line with the Special Rapporteur’s recommendation No. (115) (a) 4