New Independent School licensing law issued

The Deputy Emir and Heir Apparent His Highness Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani, has issued a law on Independent Schools giving the Supreme Education Council the authority to approve the establishment of educational institutions by ordinary individuals. The Law to be set in force as from the date of its issuance

According to the law, an educational institution will be established as a legal non-profit organization. By the conditions of the law, the Supreme Education Council shall issue decisions and conditions to regulate:

• The operational rules that should be met by the operators;
• Prepare the procedures of the operation applications;
• Issue approval for the operation of the Independent Schools; and
• Issue conditions for awarding the school operational licenses.

According to Article No. (3) of the Law, by a decision made by the Supreme Education Council, the Independent Schools shall form Boards of Trustees and lay down their authorities, responsibilities and functions.

Article No. (4) of the Law states that a school operational license is personal and should not be assigned to other parties unless otherwise approved by the Supreme Education Council provided that the new operator meets the same conditions of the outgoing operator.

Article (5) of the Law states that the authorized operator shall not establish more than one educational institution at a time and shall be responsible for the operation of the institution, in addition to organizing the technical, financial, and administrative tasks, and, shall represent the educational corporation in courts and before other related parties.

Article (8) of the Law states that the operation of the educational corporation shall be terminated in case of violation of any of the rules, conditions, or procedures stated in the Law or in the operational rules.

According to the Law, the Supreme Education Council has been authorized to issue the rules and decisions necessary to execute the conditions of this Law. By this Law, the current Independent Schools’ operators should settle all their financial and administrative issues during a period of time to be decided by the Supreme Education Council and in accordance to the Education Institute recommendations.