An annual report on education has found that the average monthly schooling expenses incurred by a family in Qatar is QR10,208.

This takes into account the cost of education in independent, private Arabic and international schools across Qatar, covering  primary, preparatory and secondary stages.

The eighth Annual Report on Education in Schools in the State of Qatar, released by the Evaluation Institute of the Supreme Education Council (SEC), provides data and information on  key aspects of schooling for the academic year 2011-2012, in addition to selected comparative data covering the period from 2009 to 2012.

Evaluation Institute director Dr Hamda al-Sulaiti said: “The report provides an objective view of the reality of education in Qatar and includes specific details about the entire educational process and its sectors. The updated information provides a good opportunity to analyse such details, engage in a dialogue and discussions to enable right decision-making regarding educational development.”

Al-Sulaiti pointed out that the report contained summary information - for educators and everyone interested in education in Qatar - about schools, principals, vice-principals, teachers, students and parents.

She called on  educators, researchers and media personnel to review the report, which is available on the SEC website, and make the most of it by examining its data and scientific indicators and raise issues related to the information in the document.

She noted that the Evaluation Institute was keen to receive comments and suggestions on the report as these could enrich future publications and promote a continued partnership with the community and constructive co-operation for educational development.

This year’s report includes 263 tables and 99 charts that represent information about schools in general and other details on each stage of education (primary, preparatory and secondary) and school type (independent, private Arabic, international and community).

The report covers 298 schools, 19,896 teachers and 196,207 students in Qatar. It includes data on students, parents, teachers, principals and leaders, educational services and facilities, evaluation of practices and teaching methods, homework and students’ academic achievements.

The report’s findings include:

l62% of the students are satisfied with the diversity of academic activities in their schools.

lIn all schools, 48% of the teachers are satisfied with their salaries, while 39% are not.

lThere are, on an average, 11.4 students per teacher.

lThe highest academic level students aspire to: 69% above bachelor’s degree, 20% below bachelor’s and 11% bachelor’s.

lThe average number of computers in each school is 127.5; independent schools have registered the highest average at 151.4, followed by international schools at 122.8 and private Arabic schools at 22.3.

lThe average number of students per computer is 7.3 in independent schools, 23.5 in private Arabic schools and 19.2 in international schools.

lThe percentage of days in which students have been absent in all schools is 17%, with tardiness occurring on 15% of the days.

lThe average number of books in the school library is 5,163 and the average book-student ratio is 12:1.

lThe average number of hours spent by students doing homework in a week is 1.7 in independent schools, 2.3 in private Arabic schools and 2.3 in international schools.

lThe level of difficulty of homework assigned to students from parents’ point-of-view: 15% consider it very easy, 73% see it as appropriate and 12% find it very difficult.

lPercentage of students enjoying classes: 72% enjoy science, 70% enjoy English, 66% enjoy mathematics and 64% enjoy Arabic.

lTeachers’ satisfaction with the amount of time allocated to teaching in a school day is 85%.

lPercentage of teachers with formal qualification in teaching is 67% in independent schools, 66% in private Arabic schools and 82% in international schools.

lTeachers’ qualification: 4% below bachelor’s, 71% bachelor’s and 25% above bachelor’s.

lAverage nationality of teachers: 20% Qatari, 60% other Arabs and 20% non-Arabs.

lPercentage of students: 50% Qatari, 35% other Arabs and 15%  non-Arabs.

lAverage number of hours teachers spend in professional development during the school year is 56.2 in independent schools, 32.2 in private Arabic schools and 27.5 in international schools.

The report has been issued in the electronic form this year, to be published along with previous reports on the SEC website.