Qatar will need 53 more new government schools by 2020 to accommodate students at all school stages, according to HE the Minister of Education and Higher Education Dr Mohamed Abdul Wahed Ali al-Hammadi.
The minister also encouraged Qatari investors to open more private schools in the country to meet the demand for school admission due to rising
population.
Addressing the opening of Qatar Population Day 2016 celebrations yesterday, Dr al-Hammadi said that a study conducted by the ministry indicated the proposed 53 new government schools are expected to provide 33,000 seats. Besides, the country needs another 46 government schools during 2020-2030 for additional 28,000 seats.
According to the minister, a total of 2,236 new seats were added this year at various school stages, taking the current number of government school to 191 with 100,319 students and 12,240 teachers. The total number of government kindergartens in the country is 72, with 7,730 pupils and 1,750 teachers.
The minister also noted that 12 new private schools and kindergartens, including international schools, were given operation licences in the current year. These provide 10,380 new seats for students. At present, Qatar has 160 private schools and 85 kindergartens, presenting 23 different curricula, with 172,247 students at various educational levels.
As part of the annual review of schools by the ministry, two independent primary schools were opened during the school year 2016-2017 at areas with population density. Also, the students of three other schools were transferred into new school buildings, and seven new buildings were allocated for
kindergartens at various areas.