Report highlights Qatar’s education status

A family in Qatar spends 10,208 riyals (Dh10,288) a year to educate one son or daughter, a report on education indicates. The eighth Annual Report on Education in Schools in the State of Qatar, released by the Evaluation Institute of the Supreme Education Council (SEC), provides data and information on key aspects of schooling for the academic year 2011-2012, in addition to selected comparative data covering the period from 2009 to 2012. The annual report said that 20 per cent of the teachers in all the schools were Qataris, while 60 per cent were from Arab countries and 20 per cent from non-Arab countries. Half of the students were Qataris, well ahead of Arabs who made up 35 per cent, and non-Arabs with 15 per cent. “The report provides an objective view of the reality of education in Qatar and includes specific details about the entire educational process and its sectors,” Hamda Al Sulaiti, the head of the Evaluation Institute, said. “The updated information provides a good opportunity to analyse such details, engage in a dialogue and discussions to enable right decision-making regarding educational development.” The report contained summary information — for educators and everyone interested in education in Qatar — about schools, principals, vice-principals, teachers, students and parents, she said. Educators, researchers and media personnel were urged to review the report, available on the SEC website, and raise issues related to the information in the document. “The Evaluation Institute is keen to receive comments and suggestions on the report as these can enrich future publications and promote a continued partnership with the community and constructive co-operation for educational development,” she said, quoted by local media. The report covers 298 schools, 19,896 teachers and 196,207 students in Qatar and includes data on students, parents, teachers, principals and leaders, educational services and facilities, evaluation of practices and teaching methods, homework and students’ academic achievements. Source: Gulfnews.com