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Parents, teachers and principals expressed their relief over the decision of HE Mr. Saad Bin Ibrahim Al-Mahmoud, Minister of Education and Higher Education and Secretary General of the Supreme Education Council (SEC) to unify schools’ calendar for the academic year 2010/2011. The decision came to resolve the issue of lack of synchronization in holidays between independent and semi-independent schools in the past years that inconveniened parents with kids in both schools and disrupted their holiday plans.

The QSSC is the official national certificate issued to students on completion of Grade 12 studies at independent schools in Qatar. It is endorsed and approved by the Secretary-General of the Supreme Education Council (SEC), Qatar. It combines information from comprehensive authentic school-based assessments and standardized external tests in ways which ensure that both contribute substantially and properly to the student’s final results. The tests measure students’ skills and abilities in eight content areas - Islamic Studies, Social Sciences, Arabic Language, English as a Second Language, Mathematics, Chemistry, Biology and Physics

H.E. Saad bin Ibrahim Al-Mahmoud, Minister of Education met a Chinese delegation chaired by Mr. Xu Yongji, Deputy Director of Cooperation and International Exchange. The meeting discussed a number of mutual educational issues as well as ways of enhancing and strengthening relations between the Supreme Education Council and the Chinese Ministry of Education.

The Education Institute of the Supreme Education Council has issued a circular to all the independent schools’ operators about the automatic registration of students in grades six and nine in specific schools. According to the plan, primary and preparatory schools have been assigned to receive students from specific schools in grades six and nine respectively.

An official source at the Higher Education Institute (HEI) of the Supreme Education Council (SEC) revealed that eight Russell group universities have been selected for study in the foundation year. This decision came to assist students familiarize themselves with the new strict education system in the UK and facilitate their transition to join the undergraduate (bachelors) programs.

H.E. Saad Bin Ibrahim Al-Mahmoud, Minister of Education and Higher Education and Secretary General of the Supreme Education Council (SEC) met with Mrs. Sofie Lindin, Finish Minister of Telecommunications along with her delegation yesterday, Wednesday May 5, 2010. Mr. Matti Lasila, the Finish non-resident Ambassador to the State of Qatar attended the meeting.

Following the transformation of all state schools to independent status, the Supreme Education Council (SEC) has decided to utilize the services of professional recruitment agencies to find competent teachers in order to provide school operators with alternatives to help them meet the requirements for qualified personnel in the independent schools. The SEC will oversee the hiring process of teachers in rare disciplines like physics, chemistry and biology to ensure they meet the rules and regulations set by the SEC.

In 2003, the State of Qatar embarked on an ambitious initiative – Education for a New Era – to reform the public school education system. This came from the leadership’s commitment and belief that developing the education system was not only crucial but also essential to the future well being of the nation. Although the initiative faced numerous challenges and obstacles, leaders have remained committed to creating a world-class education system that reflects Qatar’s own beliefs, values, culture and identity.

H.E. the Prime Minister Sheikh Hamad Bin Jassim Bin Jabor Al-Thani presided over the Cabinet weekly regular session held at the Emiri Diwan yesterday. The Cabinet discussed topics on the agenda and approved a draft decision by the Minister of Education and Higher Education on time schedule of study, examination and vacations of scholastic year 2010/2011. As per the decision, the summer holidays for all students in public schools will begin on Thursday, July 8, 2010. School administrators and teachers at all stages will begin their vacation on Wednesday, July 28, 2010. The academic year for administrative officials, teachers and students of independent schools will start on Sunday, September 19, 2010 while the evening school students will begin their academic year on Sunday, September 26, 2010

The Japanese Embassy has invited applications from Qatari undergraduate, postgraduate and research students for scholarships for various courses offered by universities in Japan. The announcement was made at a press briefing held jointly by the Supreme Education Council’s Higher Education Institute (HEI) and the Japanese Embassy officials on Thursday, April 22, 2010.