Education Institute hold an open meeting about the vouchers program

Education Institute hold a meeting on 14/06/2008 with Qatar Academy parents about the vouchers program. Sabah Al – Haidous, education institute director along with Mr. Khalid Al Harkan, Deputy director, participated in the meeting.

Fawzia Al Khater, vouchers program director outlined the program details.
The program will be implemented next year in three schools, Qatar Academy, international School of London and Debecay High School for medical professions. Fawzia said that the program aimed to offer parents further variety of school choices for their children.

She added that the program is expected to include all the students who are entitled to use government funding education. Parents will be able to use government funding vouchers toward the school of their choice- either independent or private.

Many private schools in Qatar that is possessing an approved international accreditation are expected to join the program. Schools will be encouraged to increase the number of the students and establish more private schools to join the outstanding schools.

Al khatir confirmed that many steps would be taken before implementing the program. In the first phase, they will set up the administration procedures for vouchers for small number of recipients. If successful in the first phase, the program will be expanded and to include many students.

Criteria for the schools to join the program
1- to adopt accredited international or national curriculum.
2. to teach the three subjects( Islamic studies, Arabic Language and History of Qatar. )
On the other hand the students should be Qataris whose parents work in private sector or retired or unemployed.


The value of the vouchers is 19000 Qatari Riyals for elementary schools, 19400 Qatari Riyals from 7-9 grade, and 21800 for 10- 12 grade.
The value for 10 grade – 12 grade is QR 21000. The value should cover the total value of part of it of the fees from four year and above. The government pay the fees directly to the school. Parents will pay for the rest of the school fees.

Al Khater explained that the education fees for Qatar Academy for the sixth grade would be QR 29397 while the voucher is QR 19000, therefore the parents should pay the rest which is QR 10 397. The fees are QR 29397 for the grades 7 – 10 but the voucher for the grades 7 – 9 is QR 19400 and the parents has to pay the rest which is QR 9997. For grade 10 vouchers , the parents has to pay QR 8397.

For grade 11 – 12 the fees are QR 36496 , the voucher is QR 21800 and the parents pay the rest of which is QR 14696. parents has to pay the application fees QR 250 and pay the registration fees which is QR 2000, plus any fees for books and references , the school meal , field trips and the school uniform.

In order to participate in the first phase, parents has to fill an application form and to provide all the necessary documents by 30th of September. The schools should receive the schools fees from Supreme Education Council by the end of October.

Parents have inquiries about the government sector children to join in the voucher program.

Ms Sabah Al Haidous, Education Institute Director, replied to parents that the Education Institute doesn’t discriminate between the private and government sector children. The only thing is that they are waiting for the voucher program to be implemented to all.

At the first phase the program will include the private sector and the retirees children because they don’t have any one to pay for them. We need some time to pass all this to the right channels and laws. She added we don’t want to be accused of rushing , because Qatar will benefit from that at the end of the day.