Summer schools fill a need for children in Qatar

Summer schools fill a need for children in QatarAs schools close for the long summer holiday in Qatar, many parents look for ways in which they can keep their children engaged. Summer schools and camps are a good option as they offer a variety of fun activities to keep children busy and active.However, the summer schools come at a price and many of them are not within the financial reach of middle-income families.Summer schools and camps offer activities like language courses and classes in ballet, dance, swimming, yoga, cooking and drawing. Some of them are more academically inclined and give coaching in subjects like mathematics and science to ensure that children keep learning even during the vacation.Most of them are flexible in their timings as slots can be booked for a week or even one day a week.The fees being charged at most summer schools in Qatar start from QR500 a day, going up to QR5,000 for weeks of activities.A camp that seeks to “enhance physical development and a sense of individual success” asks for QR200 for registration, besides charging up to QR900 for participating in its summer activities for a week. Another centre charges QR4,800 for eight weeks of a minimum programme of three hours per week.At a sailing academy, a one-week course on learning how to sail a dinghy costs QR950 for children aged six years and above, while a bookstore asks for QR300 as registration fee for manga drawing and QR200 for scrap-booking classes.Some institutions offer summer activities that range from arts and crafts to “creativity lessons” for children aged between five and 16 years. These usually cost from QR1,500 to QR3,000.It is not clear if the Supreme Education Council (SEC) has any control over the summer schools’ activities or any right to regulate their operations and approve their fees. While several expatriate parents complain that the summer schools are too expensive, all of them agree that they fill a need for families who stay back in Qatar during summer months for various reasons.  But it will be good if an authority like SEC has an overall control over institutions offering summer courses. The council could issue general guidelines for their working, making sure that their premises are safe and fit for the activities they are promoting.  Their fee structure should also be monitored and regulated to make sure that they offer the service that parents are paying for. Outdoor activities are limited for children in Qatar because of the gruelling heat of summer months. Instead of children spending their entire time sitting in front of the television or at the computer, summer schools can be a healthy alternative and help them develop new skills, meet new friends and learn new things.