More private schools opening soon in Qatar this year
Complaints about a severe shortage of seats in private schools in Qatar are likely to be addressed with a number of new schools expected to open in the next academic year.
The Supreme Education Council (SEC) has received 96 applications for opening private schools during the 2015-2016 academic year, a senior SEC official has disclosed.
A final decision on the applications will be announced in June, Hamad Al Ghali, director of the Private Schools Office at SEC, told a local Arabic daily.
Schools that have got initial approval have been given time until May-June to meet the licensing requirements so that they can start functioning when the next academic year begins, he added.
Last year, the SEC opened 35 private schools, including international schools, after receiving 98 applications for the 2014-2015 academic year. In November-December every year, the Private Schools Office receives requests for licences to open new private schools and kindergartens.
The officials said licences for new schools had been issued based on strict criteria. The most important conditions are related to the building, safety and security of the school premises and the fee structure.
A minimum area of 1,250 square metres is required to open a kindergarten, while a primary school needs a minimum of 2,450 square metres. For a school combining a kindergarten and primary-level classes, the required minimum space is 4,000 square metres.
A school offering preparatory or secondary-level classes must have a minimum area of 3,500 square metres while a facility combining all the three levels should provide a minimum area of 8,500 square metres.
The SEC also scrutinises the study programme while issuing a licence to a new school, especially in the case of international schools.
The school fee is based on the infrastructure, facilities, staff and the study programme. [Read more on The Peninsula]
Agree with Jagar ,san,Msg . It is better to have new indian schools in alkhor
It will be advantageous for Schools, Students and Parents, apart from administration if such approvals come before new academic year commences in April so as to obviate need for changing schools and avoid confusions
Agree with Jagar & san3212k "No Indian schools in Al-khor" i wish they give approval to DPS / BPS / Bhavans /Pearl or any Indian school, lot of people working in Raslaffan can stay in Al-khor, most of the Doha-Alkhor-Raslaffan traffic can be reduced & Al-khor will be developed.
Agreed with Jagar.... no Indian School in Al-khor. Many parents moving to Doha only and only because of Indian School.
i wish they should give permission to SpringField for primary one of the best school in doha
Can we please have a list for those new schools?
Good news. It Wil more good if some Indian schools opened in Al khor.....