DOHA: The demand for seats in private schools is expected to be covered about 60 percent from the new academic year 2018-19 which is set to begin tomorrow.

He said that private schools have brought diversity (in the education system) hinting at the issuance of licences for 11 new schools and kindergartens for new academic year adding 4,000 seats.

“Qatar allotted plots of lands to build schools with a combined capacity of 6,000 seats and it will provide buildings on rent to operate private schools to meet the growing demands of school seats in the country,” said Al Abdullah in a report on the preparation for new academic year which was posted on the website of the Ministry of Education and Higher Education.

Director of the Evaluation Institute at the Ministry of Education and Higher Education, Khalid Al Harqan, said that the tests of Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) for fourth and eights grades will be held in March and April 2019.

TIMSS is a large-scale assessment designed to inform educational policy and practice by providing an international perspective on teaching and learning in mathematics and science.

The Ministry has opened several new public and specialised schools in different areas in the country to meet the growing need amid the expansion and development witnessed by the State in all fields, said Fawzia Al Khater, Assistant Under-Secretary for Educational Affairs at the Ministry of Education and Higher Education.

She said in the same report that the Ministry also continues to ensure a suitable educational environment for students to engage in various streams of science and education.

Abdullatif Al Nuaimi, Director of the Department of Joint Services, said that the Ministry has distributed a total 2,117 buses of different sizes to all schools and provided 15 buses for students with special needs.

He said that the Ministry will also provide small vehicles as per the individual needs adding that the Ministry is fully ready to receive the new academic year.

“School buildings are ready as per the plan of the Ministry and the necessary maintenance works have been completed,” said Abdullatif adding that the requirements of safety and security at the schools were ensured and school canteens are ready.

According to the Ministry report, the number of private schools and kindergartens reached 282 in the country, with a total enrolment of 190,644 students.

The total number of teachers in the government school system has now reached up to 13,440 teachers. The total number of teachers in private schools this year is 13,591 teachers.