Young Qataris unqualified for labor market

A major issue in education starts at the beginning (kindergarten) all the way up to grade 12. Students are often passed along, without having learned the skills and theory needed to continue successfully at a secondary educational level.

They are often taught using the rote method of memorization, rather than learning to think things through and "find" the right answer by applying concepts/ideas/theory in a practical setting.

I have taught recent high school graduates who have taken English and math throughout their academic careers, and some (not all by any means) are incapable of adding two numbers together and getting the same answer twice. Basic multiplication and division is beyond a good many and even trying to apply it in a practical situation -

Ahmed buys a new pair of sandals for $199. Ahmed gives the clerk $500 Riyal note - how much change does Ahmed get back?

Reading might be an issue but even doing a role play where $$ changes hands means Ahmed might get 800 Riyals back or 1 Riyal depending on the mood of the person play acting the clerk (and Ahmed accepts either as being correct).

Like many GCC countries at the K-12 level, teachers are often willing to pass little Ahmed through to graduation in order to keep their job despite the fact Ahmed has not learned all that much that will help him in the workforce. Is it the teachers' fault? To some extent, perhaps. It's complicated especially when families expect Ahmed to move right along and complain when he doesn't.

The other problem Qataris face is to get a good job in a good company it doesn't matter how good you are you need wasta. Not being from the right family, right religion or having good friends from say school limits your opportunities.

I've had the pleasure of training many young (and not so young) Qataris on courses designed to help them achieve skills for the work place. Firstly, I think we must remember people of any nationality are unlikely to have the skills to undertake many positions directly out of high school and even graduates around the world routinely complete job-specific training before they are fully competent in post. Also, like any other country, there is of course a range of abilities and motivation levels. I've had students who either don't turn up or try to sleep through class and students who have stunned me with their dedication, drive and capabilities. I am not sure what the aim of the study in the source article was; perhaps to identify areas for improvement in the education system? Qatar is very young in terms of development, and their education system had come on leaps and bounds in recent years. It will take time for the effects of this to filter down through the generations. Students now start learning English from the word go but this was not the case twenty years ago, so older people may have more to do here, if it is a requirement of many employers as the article suggests. I have found that the bedouin-style students often lack English and general study skills more often too, but please correct me if I am making wrong assumptions! I am not sure what effect the change from teaching courses in English to teaching in Arabic at Qatar University will have....Qatari employees are offered a wealth of training as part of companies' Qatarisation schemes, but this is not without problems. I have heard of many keen Qatari trainees who are not given the right encouragement and supervision in their development plans as current employees fear if the Qataris become competent they will 'steal' their jobs.

Thats right moza..I addressed this in the first line of my last comment. It's all because they have options at present. After a few decades, I am afraid, they won't have any.

With so many opportunities they can pick and choose. Who wants to work 12 hour shifts in the sun on a dirty gas plant or dig holes in roads when you don't have to. Some say this is not the real world but this is there reality.

It's not Qatari nature that makes them not to want to do this jobs, it's human nature. Everyone of you would be the same if you had the same opportunities.

This vicious circle will continue as long as Qatar's oil and gas resources will not dry out.

Toiling under the sun or in the factories or plants is the last thing the Qataris are interested in to start their career with. The senior and managerial positions need expertise and experience in the candidates and that can't be given to Qataris as they don't have any.

They first need to start atleast as trainees in the labour industries if not as labours..

"Meanwhile, despite the demand for job applicants who have a good handle of English, Qatar University has reported a surge in enrollment after relaxing its admissions requirements and switching its language of instruction from English to Arabic"

Because the students are more comfortable learning in Arabic, hence the surge in enrollment.

Manual labor? What disparaging a job.

Some people are struggling to find a means to actually land a job; others don't even have the "luxury to work" and then there are those who actually render it as beneath them. What they need is a reality check and I don't mean "their" reality.

are hired by NASA or some govt. agency in the US. They are 'youth'.

Atttracting Qatari youngs to work in govermental jobs, has lower their ability to get higher degrees.

And for sure that have to spend on training very much to enable them to perform work assignements.

where in the world are the youth qualified for labor jobs as soon as they get out of universities?

Omani's are generally down to earth, very humble people and quite relaxed.

Sorry, yes! the Omanis too ..

As in Saudi, most want government jobs because they are secure for life and offer good pensions.

Omanis too britexpat

Nothing new in this. Apart from Bahrain, most GCC nationals don't want menial jobs.

It is human nature. They will not change unless forced to by economic circumstances. What is really interesting about the article is the switch of teaching language to Arabic ..