Overview of Qatar education system
Qatar aims to position itself as a regional and global leader in education by presenting a promising landscape for partnerships and growth. Education holds a paramount position in Qatar’s government budget, with approximately 9-10% of annual spending allocated to the education sector.1 This steadfast commitment to education is reflected in the significant investments made by the Qatari government, resulting in a high literacy rate of 99.2% among individuals aged 15 and above in 2019.
One of the developments in Qatar’s education sector is the increase in the number of educational facilities. The country has set an ambitious goal of reaching 524 schools by 2023/24. This contributed to the growth of the education sector’s GDP share from 1.3% in2012/13 to 3.3% in 2018/19. Qatar boasts a diverse student population in higher education, with Qataris constituting the majority, followed by Egyptians. The country’s education system spans five levels, including pre-primary, primary, preparatory, secondary, and higher education. This comprises government schools, international schools, community schools, andprivate Arabic schools, with private schools witnessing substantial growth in enrolment.
Just like other countries around the world, the COVID-19 pandemic had a profound impact on Qatar’s education landscape as it caused the demand for e-learning, vocational learning, skill development training, and executive education to rise. As a result, there is a growing need for specialized and innovative training opportunities for students, particularly in secondary schools and universities. This presents a fertile ground for educational institutions and companies to offer their expertise and collaborate with their Qatari counterparts.
In line with its desire for educational excellence, Qatar has initiated a public-private partnership (PPP)initiative to construct new schools. Thereby creating unique openings for mostly U.S. companies specializing in teacher training and professional development. Institutions and organizations can leverage this and actively contribute to Qatar’s educational landscape.
Opportunities
1. Inclusive Education and Specialized Schools:
With less than 0.5% of the population in need of special care, Qatar aims to cater to the needsof students requiring special care, particularly in the field of education. With a focus on conditions such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD), there is a growing demand for specialized schools and resources to ensure inclusive education for all children in Qatar. One in 56 boys and one in 230 girls have ASD in Qatar and the Child Development Center is one of the few centres in Qatar providing ABA therapy supervised by board-certified behaviour analysts.
2. Underserved demography:
A melting pot of different cultures, Qatar is home varying demographics, all of whom should have access to quality education. While Qatar boasts a diverse range of educational institutions, some segments are still underserved. There are a lot benefits in creating tailored experiences for different groups. E.g., in the Indian schools inQatar, the Indian heritage is deeply embedded in their curricula and culture. Currently, there are about 20 Indian schools in Qatar and they cater to the cultural and academic needs of Indian children in the country. Conversely, Africans that constitute 15% of the population do not have institutions tailored to their rich heritage of African culture.5 Presently, children of African descent in Qatar do not have institutions that infuse their culture into their academics. The establishment of African education institutions therefore presents a unique opportunity to preserve African culture and introduce it tothis part of the world.6 Therefore, establishing an African education institution could be an opportunity.
Conclusion
Qatar makes significant strides in education and strives to become a regional and global leader in this field. They offer an opportunity for partnership with private establishments.
The Ministry of Education and Higher Education, along with the Qatar Foundation, play pivotal roles in developing and regulating the education sector, while public and private schools, as well as international universities in Education City, provide a diverse range of educational opportunities. The Qatar Education Sector remains a thriving, competitive and nimble sector that is open to innovation for the holistic development of every child in the nation. With a critical look at this sector, an investor could capitalize on a major opportunity: the development of specialized schools for inclusive education across various segments. Supporting inclusive education and specialized schools would guarantee that every child, regardless of their specific requirements, has access to quality education and assistance, thereby placing Qatar in the right place as a global giant in education.
