Failure to educate wards could result in hefty fines

Manama: Qatari parents who refuse or neglect to send their children to school will be fined 10,000 Qatari riyals (Dh10,086) following the amending of the education law in Qatar.

"The Crown Prince has amended Law 25/2001 on compulsory education in Qatar, stipulating a fine for the father or custodian of the child who refuses without a valid reason to send him to school.

"The fine will be between 5,000 riyals and 10,000 riyals," Al Raya newspaper reported.

Compulsory

Education is compulsory and free in Qatar for boys and girls until the end of elementary school.

However, and despite tremendous efforts by the authorities, Qatar suffers a compulsory education gender gap in student enrollment in basic education.

A research released this month by the Qatar Permanent Population Committee said that Qatar spent 19.7 billion riyals on education in 2008, an all-time high.

Spending on fostering learning in 2005-2006 was 3.65 billion riyals.

• 19.7b riyals spent on education in 2008
• 3.65b riyals spent on learning in 2006