DOHA: Fourteen new private schools and kindergartens following the Indian curriculum are expected to open in Qatar in the next academic year, the Supreme Education Council (SEC) said yesterday.
Responding to a report carried by The Peninsula yesterday on the severe shortage of seats at Indian schools, the SEC said that it had asked only one Indian school — MES Indian School — to stop new admissions.
Quoting school officials, The Peninsula report said that most Indian schools have stopped admissions because they have no more seats to offer.
In a clarification sent to this daily yesterday, the SEC, however, said that admission is still open in all Indian schools, except the MES. The MES was asked to stop admissions because the number of students at the school has reached 10,476, almost double the permitted number of 5400 students, said the SEC.
This ceiling was fixed by the joint services department at the SEC as per the terms and conditions.
“The school was notified to provide alternative building during the academic years 2012-2013 and 2013-2014 but there was no response from the owner. Registration (for new admissions) at the school was stopped considering the safety and security of the students,” said the statement.
The statement hinted that the current space crunch at Indian schools would be addressed with opening of more schools in the next academic year. The academic year in Qatar starts in September, although the Indian schools start classes earlier in April.
Seven new schools and kindergartens following the Indian curriculum were opened in the 2014-2015 academic year and 14 new Indian schools and kindergartens are expected to open in the next academic year. Currently there are 29 schools and kindergartens in Qatar catering to the Indian community, said the statement.
“We welcome suggestions and complaints from the public through The Peninsula and other local media and assure we will consider all remarks and address them in coordination with institutions and departments at the SEC concerned,” said the statement issued by the Media and Communication Office, SEC.
THE PENINSULA
