Office of Data Collection and Management

The Office of Data Collection and Management (DCM) is responsible for the planning, design and deployment of all resources needed for the successful collection of data related to the education reform effort.  A crucial component of reform, data collection and dissemination provides access to the raw data and analysis needed to make informed decisions to improve the quality of education.

In December 2003 and January 2004, the DCM office conducted the first enumeration of all students, teachers, principals and time schedules in all public and private Arabic schools in Qatar.  Surveys of the school principals were also conducted.  The data collection scope covered approximately 300 schools with approximately 90,000 students and 7,000 teachers. 

In April and May 2004, the DCM Office conducted the first Qatar Comprehensive Educational Assessment (QCEA) which involves administering standardized tests in Arabic, English, mathematics and science to students in  grades 1-12 in all public and private Arabic schools.  It also conducted the first Qatar Comprehensive School Survey (QCSS) which is a questionnaire of students (grades 3-12), parents, teachers and school social workers.

The Qatar National Education Database System (QNEDS) serves as the “data warehouse” for storing, analyzing, and disseminating the data collected from the tests and surveys.  To house the data collected and ensure its confidentiality, the DCM Office has built a secure production center with facilities for printing and document storage.

The DCM Office also is in the process of designing and building a Web portal to be released in stages.  This portal will eventually provide all Qataris with the information they need to make educated and thoughtful decisions about the education of their children