Private schools and kindergartens in the country have provided around 15,000 school seats under the Ministry of Education and Higher Education’s Community Responsibility Project, according to Dr Rania Yousry Mohamed, director of the Private Schools and Kindergartens Department and acting director of the Private Schools Licensing Department.
The Ministry is intensifying efforts to complete student placements before the start of the new academic year, with around 3,250 students already placed across the various seat categories.
The Ministry is targeting completion of the placement process between August 25 and 30, while continuing to co-ordinate with private schools to secure more places. The project provides four main categories of educational support.
These include fully free seats available to eligible students from different social groups and nationalities, subject to applicable requirements; discounted seats, through which participating schools offer varying reductions in tuition fees; free seats specifically allocated to students with disabilities; and seats for Qatari students covered by the educational voucher. The level of financial contribution by schools varies by category, with some schools covering a substantial proportion of tuition costs while parents pay only a limited amount.
Further, 130 free seats have been allocated to students with special needs through specialised and inclusive schools. The measure forms part of the student-support pillar of the Community Responsibility Framework for
Private Schools and Kindergartens, which aims to expand educational opportunities for eligible students and strengthen access to inclusive education.
Meanwhile, the Ministry has clarified that Qatari students are not restricted to educational-voucher seats. Eligible Qatari students may apply for other free or discounted seats offered under the initiative, provided they meet the requirements for each category. For students applying for voucher-supported places, the Ministry has introduced more flexible eligibility arrangements.
The educational voucher is valued at QR28,000 per student, with participating schools covering tuition costs in excess of the voucher value under the approved arrangement. The Ministry has also removed the previous household-income restriction for the relevant voucher-supported seats, allowing eligible Qatari families to apply regardless of income.
In August, the Ministry announced 3,793 voucher-supported seats for Qatari students across 17 private schools. These schools cover a wide range of curricula and educational stages, and four participating schools also offer evening study options.
The Ministry has earlier reported that the broader Community Responsibility Project involves 113 participating schools and kindergartens.
The total number of seats is expected to remain flexible as the Ministry continues discussions with private schools. Dr Rania noted that some participating schools have recently increased their contributions by hundreds of places, including additions of around 400 seats at one school and 300 at another.
Another significant development is the opening of evening study centres for Qatari students.
The Ministry introduced this option after identifying private schools with limited morning capacity but available places in the evening. Schools were asked to assess parents’ willingness to consider evening education, and the feedback indicated that some families viewed it as a practical alternative.
Further, the Ministry intends to recognise the private schools and kindergartens that make outstanding contributions to community responsibility. Schools demonstrating significant achievements across the framework’s different areas are expected to receive awards and recognition as part of an incentive system designed to encourage continued participation.