Qatar School Term Delay - Parents Protest

Parents are in turmoil this week over a decision to move back Qatar school terms a week - and things could be about to get worse.

The decision, it appears, was taken to allow a gap between children returning to Qatar and returning to school, with the hope that anyone developing the H1N1 virus would do so before they could spread it to other children.

The announcement was made at the last possible moment, so that parents timing their arrival in Qatar with the opening of schools would not delay coming back. The announcement applies to private as well as state schools.

Predictably, this has aroused a storm of protest - many parents will be at a loss at what to do with their children during working hours, especially at such short notice.

I'm in two minds myself - I have no desire for my children to get the virus, and appreciate the reasons for delaying the school term, but then I'm one of the luckier ones - my wife doesn't work. If she did, we would be in a right mess.

I certainly have no desire to stay long into the summer so that my kids can finish the school year.

My children, I am sure, will have their own strong opinion when they are met with an injection on the first day of school - for my daughter, the first day of school ever!

Needles send them hysterical - as they do many other small children. I do not envy either the children or the teachers involved in the mass vaccination.

However, things may be about to get worse.

Rumours are that the term is about to be put back another week again.

Which would really mess many people up.

And, after the long summer holidays, may even drive my wife potty.

Related articles on the website:

Children in Qatar

Private Schools in Qatar

Qatar Nurseries

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Qatar Schools: Educational Vouchers

Both the Gulf Times and the Peninsula today reported on the introduction of educational vouchers for parents. Parents who wish to choose approved private or international schools over local education will be given a voucher. The fee is to be the equivalent to the cost of schooling a student in one of the Supreme Education Councils Independent schools. It was not clear from the article whether this voucher will be extended to residents or is only open to Qataris.

The introduction of vouchers is the latest step in a long process of reforming the Education System in Qatar. Rather than trying to overhaul the beaurocratic Ministry of Education the Government decided to set up a new body, the Supreme Education Council.

Independent schools have been set up under the auspices of the SEC, within which a number of different systems of education are used. The takeover process will shortly be completed, with the Ministry of Education finally shutting its doors in 2010.

There have been some concerns over the new independent schools - some subjects, for example, need to be taught in English, but the quality of teachers' English varies hugely. There have also been worries expressed over how well qualified some of the teachers' are. Reform takes time, though, and the new schools are a definite improvement over the older schools.

Many parents in Qatar - including Qataris - choose private schools, which, despite the current inflationary environment, remain very good value compared to many other countries. Children attending the better of these private schools are also more likely to be able to enter some of the world class universities that are coming to Qatar - and which have very stringent entry requirements.

Also see:

Directory of Private and International Schools in Qatar
Directory of Nurseries in Qatar
Directory of Colleges and Universities in Qatar
Directory of Language Schools in Qatar

Image by Nick Q.




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Studying languages in Qatar

Future updates to this post will be made to the Studying Arabic and Other Languages in Qatar section of our website.

Also see: Qatar schools Further education in Qatar

It is often easier for an English speaking expatriate to function in Qatar than for a native Qatari. Only the other day I watched an elderly Arabic man struggle to make himself understood in broken English to a Philippine nurse. With the importance of English, it is not surprising that English courses are widely available. However, language courses do not stop there, and you can study a large variety of languages.

Below we’ve included just a few of the language schools in Doha.

Language Schools in Doha

Government Schools (open to all)

The Language Teaching Institute (evening courses)
Languages taught: Japanese, Arabic, English, French taught by native speakers.
Telephone: +974 4657690
Address: PO Box 3224, Doha, Qatar
Location: New Slata, opposite the Indonesian Embassy.
Course length and frequency: Works on a term system, with placement tests for new students being held three times a year. Terms last three months, lessons are held three times a week in the evenings.
Note – The institute is run (and subsisised) by the Ministry of Education and therefore fees are very reasonable.

Website: The Language Institute

Private Schools

The Berlitz Language School
Languages taught: English, Arabic, Farsi, Japanese, French, Spanish, Dutch, Russian
German, Italian, Urdu, Portuguese
Telephone: +974 4550506/4550507
Fax:4550503
Address: PO Box 23605
Location: Al Hilal - D Ring Road.
Course length and frequency: Usually students meet three times a week for one and a half a time. Each level lasts two months.

The British Council
Languages taught: English (Native speakers).
Location: 93 Al Sadd Street
Telephone: +974 4426193-4
Fax: +974 4423315
Address: P O Box 2992DohaQatar
Course length and frequency: 7 weeks Twice a week Two hours a day
Courses include: Young Learners, Adult Learners, Exam Preparation, Business English
Tests

The Online Indonesian Phrasebook

Qatar Visitor Bookstore

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