Qatar has closed down one school and revoked the operation licenses of four schools for failing to meet education standards.
The disciplinary action against the sub-standard schools is in line with the country's drive to ensure the best learning conditions and levels for students, a statement from the Supreme Education Council (SEC) said.
"Education Minister Saad Bin Ibrahim Al Mahmoud took the decision to shut down The Oxford English School located in the Gharafa area with effect from July 30," the unnamed official said. "The decision is based on a report by the Private Schools Supervision Committee stating that the school did not meet the technical requirements set by SEC and the administrative requirements stated in the operational licences."
The Supreme Education Council has also revoked the licences of four independent school operators for "failure to achieve satisfactory student performance results as per the agreement signed between both parties," Qatar News Agency (QNA) said.
The SEC’s Education Institute oversees and provides support services to independent schools while the Evaluation Institute develops and conducts tests, monitors students' learning and evaluates school performance.
The Private Schools Office is responsible for licensing private schools, as well as nurseries and KGs operating in Qatar, monitoring their compliance with the standards and requirements set by SEC.
"The assessment of the schools was over a period of three years and despite cash injections and advise, they have failed to meet the standards required by the Supreme Education Council," the official said. "Three of the schools have received warnings to improve their levels, but they have unfortunately failed. We had to move to ensure that students had access to the best possible learning opportunities."
Qatar has taken advantage of the globalization of higher education to promote itself as the education hub of the Arabian Gulf.
