As part of its efforts to support inclusive education and qualify specialized personnel in the field of special education, the Training, Development, and Community Programs Center at the Islamic University of Minnesota - Main Center organized a specialized training course titled "Preparation of a Shadow Teacher (School Companion)," with broad participation from those interested and specialized in this field.

The course was presented by Dr. Mohammed Hussein Qatnani, a faculty member in the Special Education Department at the university. During the course, he introduced participants to the concept of the shadow teacher and its educational importance, the professional tasks involved, and mechanisms for assessing the need for such a role, in addition to reviewing practical strategies to support children with special needs in inclusive educational environments.

The course axes included discussion of several fundamental issues, most notably: the role of the shadow teacher in empowering the child and helping them adapt within the classroom, the categories that require a school companion, and answering parents' inquiries about the extent of the child's dependence on the shadow teacher and the expected duration of this support. The course also addressed the personal characteristics and essential tasks that must be available in a good shadow teacher, concluding with the provision of a practical guide for parents.

The course was held over three training lectures from February 14 to 18, 2026, in the evenings, via a video conferencing platform. It witnessed notable participation from students specializing in early intervention, early childhood, special education, psychology, and family counseling, in addition to kindergarten and nursery school teachers, parents, and those interested in the field of special education.

Officials emphasized that the course aimed to enable participants to develop an integrated scientific and practical understanding of the shadow teacher's role, define its objectives in empowering the child, and understand the mechanisms of educational and psychological support, thereby contributing to improving the quality of educational services provided to children with special needs and enhancing their opportunities for effective inclusion in mainstream education.

This course is part of a series of specialized programs that the Training, Development, and Community Programs Center at the Islamic University of Minnesota is keen to offer, affirming its pivotal role in community service, professional capacity building, and responding to contemporary educational needs locally and internationally.