School Dilema

you might have a slot held for you at a particular school.  However, I don't think it applies until the child is four years old.

I'm in the same boat as you, by the way.  My son will be three in July, but we won't arrive in Doha until August.  Our timing probably puts us at an even greater disadvantage.  I've been spoiled here in Houston because my son is in a fantastic Montessori school that is just blocks from our house. . .sure will miss that

Have you considered talking to the American School of Doha.  If you will eventually be returning to the U.S. then I would assume you would want your child matriculated into the standard U.S. curriculum.  While I don't think ASD accepts 3 year olds you could ask about a list for kindergarten and any recommendatons they may have on nursery schools that would be the most beneficial to your son when he is old enough to attend primary school.

try jazeera academy at some point. there will be no disadvantage irrespective of where ever you will landing into after a few years.

I would like to thank everyone for their advice and input.  I am gathering from this forum is that the best thing to do is to put my son in a nursery.  And keep trying DIFFERENT schools and hopefully before my son turns 6 then he will get in a good school.

I know he is turning 3 in July and it may seem young to start him in a professsional educational system; however, I don't want him to be at a disadvantage if or when we head back to the U.S.

Thanks again and if anyone has any other ideas or suggestions or other schools to look into then PLEASE let me know :)

Actually First Step is open 06.30 to 4pm and open saturdays for additional fee...

...and he's in a school here in al khor. he's in pre-KG and doing good so far. try National Education Center (NEC) located near Lulu Hypermarket. The school where my son is into is a branch of NEC. We're moving to doha this month and the owner of the school here says that my son can continue his schooling at NEC there.

here are contact details of NEC that you may find useful: 4676355 / 4663106 - - email: [email protected] and [email protected]

another nursery school accepting children from 3mos to 3 and a half years is First Step Nursery behind Toy's R Us in Al Saad (tel# 4375862). Nursery is from Sun-Thurs 700am-200pm.

so far these are all i can share with you as i also just started to look for a school for my boy a few months ago...

hope these would help...goodluck!

I have heard some horrible things about the Choueifat Schools and I have some serious doubts about the SABIS system. Colleagues who have taught at these Chewyfat schools have said that they would never want to teach there again.

Having said that, what real choice do parents have, when many of the schools in Doha do not bother to reply to telephone calls and e-mails? Or else parents are told, "The waiting list is full"?

Another little problem is that the traffic in Doha is getting worse and worse, so hard luck if the school you want for your child is on the other side of the city.

 Is there a solution? Yes. Parents need to get organised and start their own schools. If parents are waiting for the existing schools to do something about this problem of the lack of school places, then my guess is that they will be waiting for a very long time. With the new developments that are happening in Doha, my guess is that the shortage of school places is only going to get worse.  

years old.  You are not trying to get him accepted into Harvard.   Most schools accept children at age 4.  That's just the way it is.  I'm sorry you were led on by a school.   They are so bombarded with inquiries this time of year, they may not be communicating as well as they could be with prospective parents.  There are numerous preschool/nurseries around that you can put him in.   I would find out what area of town you were living in, then choose a couple of schools that are close by to investigate.

Ideally schools accept children from 4years+..They sometimes do accept in mid-term which is in Sep.

At the moment you could put the child in a play school,which is a trend here for most of the expatriates.Some of them even keep the children in play schools till they are 6 and then put them in Std 1 in proper schools.

 My daughter is going to a very good play school at Al-Sadd.They have inculcated good habits and etiquettes.

The teacher is Indian Catholic and the name of the place is Golden Hours.

I am from uk and have put my sons name who turns 4 in july in ALL the good schools in qatar and am told he is on the waiting list incl choueifat. I submitted forms late march and either they have told me its next to impossible 3% chance or try again next year!!! I have spoken to a few nurseries and they have verbally accepted him but dunno what happens when i get there next month!!! I have heard until u dont visit them 3 times a week u have no chance. Try all the nurseries/school u can search on this site and register him with all. U make up ur mind in the end but register him with at least 3 nurseries/schools...... Good Luck!

I don't understand how all classes are full when they told me April 15 is the day of be put on the list...makes me think some people have more priority than others.

Have you thought of any other options?

The same thing happened to me at Choiefat, I asked them to register my kids for september session and was told to come in April-May. In April, they say the waiting list is too long and it will be a waste to even submit the forms.