New admissions policy to ease registration process

The Education Institute Assistant Director, Khalid Al-Harqan has issued a circular to all independent schools' operators specifying the admissions policy in the different key stage levels in the independent schools. This move is aligned to the Supreme Education Council’s efforts to regulate the admissions and registration in schools.

The new admissions policy mainly is based on a group of criteria including geographical location (register students in schools closest to their homes) and registration of siblings in the same schools. The policy is also based on an electronic registration system on line, which the SEC launched last year. The Evaluation Institute supervises the process while some SEC groups of staff physically supervise the process in schools.

The Minister of Education and Higher Education and Secretary General of the SEC issued a decision on January 25, 2010 establishing a joint committee comprising all stakeholders to help facilitate the registration process in the independent schools. The committee came up with number of procedures that would help ease the registration for parents.

“We have considered the ease for students and parents to enroll their children in schools near their homes while at the same time giving parents the freedom to choose schools that best suits their children’s needs as stated in the SEC principles,” said the Minister of Education and Higher Education and Secretary General of the SEC.

Accordingly the new registration policy has been divided into three stages:
The first stage: registration of siblings in the same school
The second stage: early registration electronically in nearby schools
The third stage: allocated to new comers and the vacant seats

First stage: Registration of Siblings
Registration begins from May 9 to 18, 2010 for Qatari nationals, children whose mothers are Qatari nationals, and children who have siblings in the school provided they are not in the final grade in the school.

On the receipt of the feedback, school officials will then check and apply the registration rules with respect to age and nationality before entering the data into the database from May 19 – 20, 2010. Parents will receive notification about acceptance of their children in the schools.

Second stage: Early Registration
This stage commences on May 9 to 13, 2010 and it includes all successful students in grades six and nine from all nationalities. During this period, schools will register students automatically in nearby schools upon agreement. Parents will be allowed to transfer their children to other schools based on existing vacancies. The schools will transfer students' files to their new schools. Parents have the right to report the school if the child is not registered in the nearby school in the same registration day.
Students who are not interested to register in the school selected for them by the SEC can have their parents report to the school of their choice
Third stage: Registration of newcomers and vacant seats
This will include all students in all stages from all nationalities and will be conducted according to the schedule prepared by the Education Institute. During this period, all new students will be registered. Students registered during the early registration stage will be transferred during a period to be announced later. This procedure will begin from May 30 to June 2, 2010.

The SEC will announce registration procedures and dates for each stage in all the local papers and will issue a guideline for parents including all formalities and procedures.

The SEC Information Technology Department will provide training in the schools on the electronic registration program to ensure its efficiency. Coordinators from SEC will be available in the registration centers to supervise the registration of the new comers only and to ensure proper application of the rules and regulations. Coordinators will check vacant seats and check posting of students’ data every day. Coordinators will also communicate between the school and the SEC.

The role of the school:
• The schools will provide the employees required to fulfill the registration procedures provided that they are experienced in the data entry.

• Schools are also obliged to place posters at a visible location indicating the name of the school, the name of the operator, the location, the required documents, and the working hours.

• Schools are also required to send messages to parents on a weekly and monthly basis to update them with registration information.

• Registration Centers will be open to the public in the evenings from (4 - 8 pm).

The Education Institute issued circular providing the enrolling age in schools:
KG1:
For Qatari nationals and GCC nationals and children of Qatari mothers born up until 31/12/2006
KG2
For Qataris and GCC nationals and children of Qatari mothers born up until 31/12/2005.

Admission to Primary level:
Grade (1)
For Qataris and GCC and pupils of Qatari mothers born up until to 31/12/2004.
Pupils of other nationalities born in 30/9/2004

Grade (7) - Grade (10)
Registration takes place according to the age of students stipulated in the enrollment policy.



Documents required include:
•
New enrollees, past and readmitted students in all grades of public and private schools are required to provide the following documents:

• Identification card or the original passport bearing the student personal number + a copy (for all Qatari students)

• Original passport showing the pupils' information + a copy. (All non-Qatari students).

• Original birth certificate + a copy. (All students)

• A valid temporary residency permit + a copy (For residents)

• Two recent photos. Medical certificate and medical card (medical centers) for first grade students.

• Employment statement from the parent's employer (children of: Non-Qataris, GCC citizens, Qataris female, temporary residency permit holders) for new pupils and readmission in independent schools only. This statement should be valid and issued one month prior to registration date.

• Parents working in companies which the government owns fifty per cent of its capital, should submit certificates confirming that.

• Two photographs for all students.

• Certificate from Kahrama or the electricity and water bill with the number, the medical file and the vaccination certificate for the new students in the kindergartens.
•
Students' end year certificates (final original transcript) should be submitted as well.

Registration of students is restricted to the following:

• Qatari nationals
• GCC children
• Children of Qatari mothers
• Children of government employers
• Children of employers in companies where the government owns 50% of the capital
• Children of the diplomatic corps accredited in Qatar.
• Children of employees working in Saudi Islamic Center
• Children of employees working in Gulf Cooperation for Industrial Consultation in Qatar
• Children of employees working in the Qatar Bureau for Trade and Industry
• Children of employees of Mowasalat Company
• Children of employees working at Hemaya for Security Services
• Children of employees working in Family Consulting Center
 Children of employees of charity societies or private corporations
• Children of parents having temporary residence issued by Ministry of Interior
• Children of employees working at Al-Andalus private schools
• Children with Special Needs
•