Providing teacher quality are strategic goals for the SEC

An official source in the Supreme Education Council (SEC) has revealed that teacher quality and organizing ongoing programs to attract individuals to the teaching profession are strategic goals executed in partnership with the Faculty of Education at Qatar University.

He added that the role of the teacher recruitment companies is to provide one of many options to operators and principals to select the best education experts from the local job market and former Ministry of Education teachers as well as provide resumes for qualified teachers from different Arab and foreign countries. This initiative serves the overall principle of variety and choice, which are considered as pillars of the education development system. In addition this process will saves time, effort and money spent on travel, accommodation, advertisements, interviews, and other external recruitment requirements.

The source pointed out that the process of hiring recruitment agencies was carefully studied, noting the strict conditions for teacher selection including holding teaching positions and have at least five years experience in an educational corporation in respective their countries; pass the probation period; obtain a teaching license in the first year of the contract in accordance with the rules and regulations set by the Evaluation Institute of the SEC, among others.

The source confirmed that the SEC is taking precautionary measures to address any issues regarding the hiring process saying that there is no objection to testing the candidates under the supervision of the SEC.

Regarding forged certificates that some companies may provide the source said, “We understand the concerns of the public and wish to assure them that the SEC has set conditions in the contracts that will safeguard against any acts of forgery particularly that work is based on competition and quality and excellence. The

The source said that these efforts will in no way interfere with recruitment of Qatari professionals into the teaching profession. He made special mention to the launch by the College of Education at Qatar of a number of programs that would attract Qataris into the profession including the Bachelor of Primary Education; Primary, Secondary and Special Education Diplomas, Master degrees in School Leadership and Special Education.

These programs are designed according to the national professional standards for teachers and leaders set by the SEC. This is considered a strategic aim for the SEC efforts to nationalize education in Qatar and form national skills that will lead in the development of the nation. The teacher registration, accreditation and licensing process launched by the Evaluation Institute of the SEC is considered a guarantee for the provision of strong and skillful workforce in the field of education.

The recruitment process aims to recruit teachers before the beginning of the academic year and companies were informed to announce the recruitment vacancies in April and May of each year. The companies should present the list of names of teachers and their qualifications for the screening and selection process, and recruitment procedures will be completed upon satisfactory results.

The SEC felt that contracting these agencies as per the set conditions and criteria will provide qualified teachers in record time and allow operators to choose and finalize the hiring procedures, and not to undermine their autonomy. It aims to stabilize the educational system and put student interest first as well as meeting the requirements of the local job market currently under intense demand for qualified teachers especially after converting all schools to independent schools.