QR1.25bn contracts awarded for building 23 schools

Representatives of the companies which were awarded contracts seen with Minister al-Hammadi and Ashghal president al-Mawlawi. PICTURE: Jayaram.

By Ramesh Mathew
Staff Reporter

Qatar's educational infrastructure received a remarkable boost on Tuesday when Ashghal awarded contracts worth QR1.25bn for the construction of 23 schools, including six kindergartens, across the country.
Hailing the government's initiative, Minister of Education and Higher Education HE Mohamed Abdul Wahed Ali al-Hammadi said the contracts demonstrated Qatar’s commitment to developing educational facilities for the student community. The minister also expressed the hope that new buildings would considerably enhance the access to education for residents in areas where the new buildings would be constructed.
The contracts awarded on Tuesday are part of a package worth QR3bn, with the remaining works already in progress in different parts of the country. The new buildings are to be completed by contractors by the third quarter of 2016, as per the terms and conditions of the contracts.
Speaking at the meeting, senior engineer and Ashghal president Nasser Ali al-Mawlawi said each of the 17 new buildings to be constructed as part of the latest phase would be two-storied complexes and cover an area of approximately 9,159 sq m each.
"When completed each of the new buildings would be able to accommodate 650 students each," said al-Mawlawi. Every school, it is understood, would have 25 rooms, he said.
The schools buildings are equipped with a multipurpose hall, laboratories for chemistry, physics and biology, two computer rooms, two art studios, language rooms besides an administrative office.
The schools would be surrounded by some external buildings, covered parking lots, football grounds, and volleyball and handball courts.
The new schools are to come up in Al Wajbah (three), Al Rayyan, Al-Kabaan (two), Al Dhakira, Al Karaana, Al Shahaniya, Onaiza, Al Ruwais, Mesaieed (two), Mesaimeer and Umm al Saneem (three).
The notable feature of the contracts was the awarding of works amounting to QR158mn for the construction of six kindergartens in Nuaja, Hazm al Markhiya, Al Messila, Umm Ghuwailina, Al Dhakira and Wadi al Banat.
While Amana Qatar was awarded two major contracts, worth QR260mn and QR272mn respectively, for the construction of nine schools, Al Jaber Trading and Contracting Company would build three schools at a cost of QR199mn.
Al Sraiya Trading & Contracting will execute a QR188mn project to build three schools. The contracts for the three schools in Umm Al Saneem are worth QR169mn and  will be executed by Al Huda Engineering.
Work on the six kindergartens will be undertaken by Galfar al-Misnad Engineering & Contracting for a total cost of QR158mn.