Unfriendly classrooms

Students are unable to get along with their teachers in schools, says report

DOHA
• An estimated 20 percent of students in the schools under the Ministry
of Education (MoE) are unable to get along with their teachers in the
school. Nearly 19 percent of the students of Private Arabic schools and
16 percent of Independent School students face similar problem, an
annual report released by the Evaluation Institute of Supreme Education
Council (SEC) revealed.

The
report "Schools and Schooling in Qatar 2006-2007", also says that a
major section of teachers are not happy with their present salary
package. The document that contains an array of information about
schools, principals, students and their parents is basically a
statistical compendium. Hence, it does not elaborate on the reasons for
the crucial findings.

The
report says there is a high rate of parental involvement in school
committees, especially from the Independent Schools where 94 percent of
Independent schools say the parents regularly turn up for the school
events. The principals say there is a 63 percent community involvement
in the activities of Independent schools.

In
the MoE schools, an average 28 per cent of teachers keep on changing at
the beginning of every academic year. The rate is far higher in
Independent schools.

The
report says that 34 per cent of the principals of MoE are worried over
the frequent absenteeism of teachers. The rate is 15 percent in
Independent Schools and 3 percent in private Arabic schools.

Only
47 percent of the teachers of MoE are satisfied with their current
salary package. In private Arabic sector, 69 percent of teachers are
not satisfied with their package. In Independent schools, 27 percent of
teachers are not satisfied with the current package.

Regarding
the opportunities to enhance the professional skills of the teachers,
the document says only 56 per cent the schools under the MoE offer
chances to develop their skills. However, 97 percent of Independent
School teachers say they were getting enough opportunities to develop
their skills.

The
document says almost all the schools have a system to evaluate the
performance of teachers on regular basis the Independent Schools are
doing the job most efficiently.

The
over 100-page document includes more than 256 statistical tables
providing separate information based on three stages of
schooling-primary, preparatory and secondary and on the school systems
including the Ministry of Education, Independent and private Arabic
schools.

The
report includes information regarding school facilities, educational
findings, teaching modalities, homework, students' behaviour, parents'
interaction and their participation with school. The document also
reveals the strengths and weaknesses in Qatar's education system and
the developments it made over time.

Source ::: The Peninsula

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