Education

The challenge for the 2007-08 school year

A challenging and often stressful task facing any family moving overseas is dealing with your children’s education. Children who arrive in August may have a difficult time securing a space in any school. 

If you have children to be placed in kindergarten to grade 9, contact the Qatar Canadian School.  Based just 3 km from the CNA-Q Duhail campus, the Qatar Canadian School was established for the children of CNA-Q employees. All new CNA-Q employees should contact the principal to discuss their child(ren)’s enrolment. For further information on the school refer to:  www.qcs.edu.qa

If your child(ren) will be enrolling in grade 10-12 in September 2007 you will have to determine the best schooling option. A comprehensive list of schools and their contact information is provided below. In looking at the options, for starters, you must choose amongst the different curriculum:  British National; American; Canadian (Alberta Department of Education); International Baccalaureate (IB); Choueifat; France National; and local Qatar State Education.

To further compound the challenge, based on past experience, some CNA-Q parents have concluded that some schools in Doha are better than others - even if they offer the same curriculum.  Add to this most schools are full for the 2007-2008 academic year. The high school vacancy situation is grim.  One option may be distance education, but that is difficult unless your child is an independent learner and you can arrange for academic support.

Which curriculum is most popular?

 In Doha, most Western expatriates choose schools who offer either the American system or the British National.  The Canadian curriculum is not on the list because it is so new here.  It was just introduced in Qatar this past 2006-2007 academic year on a start-up basis with limited enrollment, initially restricted to CNA-Q employee’s children.  The full IB curriculum is also fairly new here, so it is also not as popular with Western expatriates.

The curriculum you chose can have a big impact on your child’s university choices here in Qatar and in Canada.

What about available spaces?

A serious challenge you will face when looking at education options is finding schools that have spaces for your children. Doha’s population has increased quickly and schools have not been built at the same rate. Consequently, there are not enough schools to meet the demand. 

Schools fill up fast. In fact, most British National Curriculum and IB schools are full for the 2007-2008 academic year, and are no longer accepting applications.  The Canadian School, which offers kindergarten to grade 9, is housed in a villa and currently has limited spaces for September.  The American School is in the final stages of building a new middle/high school, scheduled to open in September, and it still has a few spaces.  A new French Embassy-supported school is opening in Doha September 2007, and there are limited spaces available and applicants must speak fluent French.

What are the entrance requirements?

With such a demand for spaces, schools have stringent entrance requirements.  The process usually includes: completion of an application;  review of report cards from your child’s last three school years; assessment tests in math, English (and sometimes science) which the applicants writes after the application is received; and often an oral interview.

The American School may waive the assessment test if your child has extremely high marks.  The Qatar Canadian School does not require an assessment test; however, it does want the last two years of schooling including the last Canadian school attended, a high level of English mastery and proof of Canadian citizenship. They cannot at this time take children with obvious physical, behavioural or learning disabilities as they do not have the resources needed. Schools will not consider your child for admission until you have arrived in Doha and completed all of the required admission documents.  School registrars tend to select students who are academically inclined and require no learning support.

CNA-Q will pay for this testing at Qatar Academy, but not at other schools.  Fees for the testing can range in price 200QR at British Schools to 500QR at the American School.  This can get costly if you have a large family.

Private secondary schools in Doha preferred by CNA-Q parents

The schools to choose from

This section is designed to help you make the right choices in regards to your child(ren)’s education. If your children fulfill the admissions requirements and are eligible (for the next school year, the school starts at Kindergarten and goes up to and including Grade 9) and if there is space, they will go the Qatar Canadian School www.qcs.edu.qa . This is where you should start your research. If they cannot get into this school, your research must continue. The quality of the instruction and school environment is very important. You may also want to find out if the school’s vacation schedule is the same as CNA-Q’s.

Tuition amounts paid by CNA-Q

Education Entitlement:

• Dependent children (to a maximum of two children per family) are entitled to receive state – funded education at Qatar Canadian School (QCS) or at Qatar Academy (QA).
• Employees whose dependent children are ineligible for admission at both Qatar Canadian School and Qatar Academy shall receive compensation to offset the tuition costs and associated fees of a State of Qatar approved alternative education plan. 
• * Employees electing to send their child (ren) to a private school will not be entitled to any subsidy or alternative compensation.

Tuition Expenses:

• *CNAQ will pay tuition up to the equivalent amount at Qatar Academy.  Parents must submit documentation that their child has been rejected at QA and at QCS. 
•  CNAQ will pay tuition expenses in excess of the QA fee structure for grades 10 through 12 in cases in which the dependent child had to be enrolled in another school because QA was not accepting students in those grades (full enrollment) and the QCS does not offer such grades.

No funds will be disbursed to parents. The State of Qatar pays all funds directly to the school. Parents are responsible for the cost of uniforms and related expenses.

Types of Schools in Qatar

Qatar has three types of primary/secondary schools - public/government, independent schools and private.

1. Public Schools

Public Schools are essentially open for Qatari and Arab expatriates and they are not co-educational. The public schools enable expatriate children to learn the local culture and language. Hence parents might see their child’s integration into the local community as important. Yet very few western expatriates send their children to public schools due to their removal from the greater expatriate community. If you decide to enroll your child(ren) into a public school, a later switch to private education might prove difficult due to the difference in curriculum and delivery thereof. For instance, the curriculum in the state schools is entirely Arabic-based (English is taught only as a foreign language).

If you decide to enroll your child(ren) in a state school, you must visit the Ministry of Education office for information about availability, qualifications and procedures.

For Further Information Contact:
Phone: +974 4942666, +974 4941163
Website (Arabic only): www.moe.edu.qa

2.       Independent Schools
Independent schools are government-funded schools which run like the charter schools in Canada. They are like the public schools, except that they are granted autonomy to carry out their own educational objectives and mission statements. Independent schools are still bound by meeting the established state curriculum standards in Arabic, English, science and mathematics. The majority of the public schools in Qatar are moving towards becoming independent schools. They work under the umbrella of the Supreme Educational Council (SEC).

For Further Information Contact:
Office of Independent Schools, Education Institute
PO Box 35111
Phone: +974 4559555
Fax: +974 4659444
Email: theodore@sec.gov.qa

3.        Private Schools
Private schools mainly cater to the large expatriate communities in Qatar. The majority of them are managed and run for English-speaking western expatriates, although many non-western expatriates and local Qataris send their children to these schools. Some private schools restrict enrolment to students of a relevant nationality. An average school day runs from around 7:30am to 1:30pm, Sunday to Thursday.

In general, standards at private schools are high, with small class sizes and modern facilities. Applications to private schools should be made as early as possible for they sometimes have long waiting lists.

Other schooling options

1.        Home schooling
Parents who choose to home school their dependant children (K-12) will be requested to submit a letter of intent to HR. The State of Qatar will cover costs that parents incur on a reimbursement basis upon the submission of receipts. The total allotted funds for an academic year will not exceed over and above the set tuition at Qatar Academy. Additional requirements and/or cost will be at the parents’ expense.

The following will be covered by CNA-Q:

• books/course materials
• shipping of school materials to Doha
• school supplies

CNA-Q will not reimburse the following:

• computer
• internet connection
• tutor(s)
• extra-curricular activities

Doha Home Educators - This group is an independent and secular support group that is open to all home schoolers. The support group is a great place to find out how to begin, share ideas, ask questions, announce educational activities and events happening in Doha, Qatar.

To Join the support group go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DohaHomeEducators/

2.        Special education schools
The Shafallah Center is one of Qatar’s specialized schools for children with hearing and/or vision impairment and special needs. The Learning Center also offers a number of special needs programmes for students from Grade 1-11, including those for gifted children. Class enrolment usually runs between 8-10 students with a fulltime teaching assistant in the classroom.

For Further Information Contact:

Shafallah Center
P.O. Box 4251
Doha, Qatar
Phone: +974 4956666
Email: info@shafallah.org.qa
Website: www.shafallah.org.qa

The Learning Center
P.O. Box 6639
Phone: +974 4927888
Fax: +974 4812409
Email: tlc@qf.org.qa
Website: www.qf.org.qa

List of schools in Doha (in alphabetical order)

Note: you are reminded that the number of schools listed does not indicate that there are spaces available or that the education offered by each is of high quality.

Post-Secondary Education

Opportunities for post-secondary education in Qatar abound with international universities having campuses right in Doha. All univerisites maintain the curriculum of their home campus, with the same level and quality of education. Therefore, degrees awarded in Qatar are the same as the degrees of the home campus.

An added benefit to studying at the Qatar campus of a major university, is the small student to faculty ratio, guaranteeing a much more intimate and intensive educational experience. Major scholarship funding is also available from the different universities and is available to expat students as well as Qatari nationals.

Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar
www.qatar.cmu.edu

CHN-University Qatar
www.chn.edu.qa

Georgetown University School of Foreign Service in Qatar
www.georgetown.edu/sfs/qatar

Qatar University
www.qu.edu.qa

Texas A&M University Qatar
www.qatar.tamu.edu

University of Calgary-Qatar
www.ucalgary-qatar.ca

Virginia Commonwealth University Qatar
www.vcu.edu

Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar
www.qatar-med.cornell.edu

Medical Services

Allergies Alert
The air quality here in this region is often poor due to the low rainfall and high dust content and the incidence of respiratory illnesses has been reported to be higher than in Canada. The schools in general cannot guarantee a peanut free environment for children with peanut allergies and the pharmacies do not stock junior epi-pens. Perfume is very commonly worn by our students which could prove troublesome if you are sensitive or allergic. These issues are offered for your consideration and further research.

Medical Care
One of the major concerns of incoming residents to Qatar is related to the quality and quantity of health care available. You will be reassured to know that the state operates a competent and comprehensive public and private health care system. In order to receive clinic or hospital treatment anywhere in Qatar, all CNA-Q employees and their dependents must hold a valid InterGlobal Health Insurance card which is issued by the College. This is the first thing that will be demanded upon arrival at any hospital, even in accident and emergency situations. In addition, each family member must have a government health card (Hamad Hospital Health Card). Application forms can be obtained from Human Resources and must be completed once the Residence Permit has been received.

It is your decision as to where you go for your non-emergency medical care. We have provided a list of medical facilities. Most CNA-Q employees use a facility that does direct billing. The alternative is to take the InterGlobal Claim Form with you and get the attending physician to complete it. You will have to pay for the services up front, but you will be reimbursed if the service is covered by the benefits plan.
 
Other Health Care
It is also your choice for the provision of other health care services. For dental work there are several private clinics, including clinics staffed by dentists, periodontists and orthodontists. Numerous opticians dispensing eyeglasses and contact lenses are readily available. You are encouraged to ask your neighbors for recommendations as the qualifications can vary greatly from practitioner to practitioner.

Emergencies
The emergency number is 999 rather than 911. Make sure that you indicate a “medical emergency” if you wish an ambulance. If you use the term “accident” you will only get the police. Remember that traffic at certain times of the day is quite heavy which will affect response time.

Hospitals

The following are a list of hospitals that supply direct billing to CNA-Q’s benefits provider (InterGlobal) and the list of services provided by each.

Al Ahli Hospital (www.ahlihospital.com)
General Medicine, Obstetrics & Gynecology, I.V.F., Pediatrics, Urology & Venereal Diseases, Family & Internal Medicine, Cardiology, Dermatology, Neurology, Orthopedics, Ophthalmology, E.N.T., Dental, General & Plastic Surgery, Physiotherapy

Al Emadi Hospital (www.alemadihospital.com)
Cardiology, Surgery, Dermatology & Venerology, E.N.T., Family Medicine & Home Visits, General Laparoscopic Surgery, Obstetrics & Gynecology, Laboratory, Ophthalmology & Lasik, Ortho-dental Surgery, Orthopedic Surgery, Pediatric, Premature and Neonate, Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, Urology, Sexology and Infertility, X-Ray

American Hospital (www.ahdoha.com)
Orthopedics, Pathology & Laboratory, Psychiatry, Internal Medicine, Urology, Dermatology, Plastic & Cosmetic Surgery

Doha Clinic (www.doha-hospital.com)
Anesthesiology, Cardiology, Dentistry, Dermatology and Venerology, E.N.T., General Medicine, General and Laparoscopic Surgery, Internal Medicine, Physiotherapy, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ophthalmology, Orthopedics and Traumatology, Pediatrics, Radiology, Urology, ICU & NICU, Dialysis Centre and Laboratory

Hamad Hospital (www.hmc.org.qa)
HMC through their affiliates Hamad General Hospital, Rumailah Hospital, Women’s Hospital and Al Amal, offer extensive medical services.
Diagnostic and Therapeutic Services (Radiology, Laboratory), Emergency Services (includes Pediatric and Trauma Emergency Centres), Inpatient Services (Medical Care,
Surgical Care, Pediatric Care, Pediatric Surgical Care, Coronary Care Unit, Medical Intensive Care, Surgical Intensive Care, Trauma Intensive Care, Pediatric Intensive Care), Outpatient Services (Pediatric Clinic, General Medicine Clinics, Surgery Clinic, Urology Clinic, Rheumatology Clinic, Neurology, Neurosurgery Clinic, Ophthalmology Clinic, Cardiology Clinic, Orthopedic- OPD Annex, Endoscopy, Day Care Unit, E.N.T. Clinic), Rehab and Other Services (Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Speech Pathology, Audiology Testing, Social Work, Dietary Consultation, Renal Dialysis)

Qatar Medical Centre
Out-Patient Services

The Apollo Clinic (www.apolloqatar.com)
Diagnostic Cardiology, Cosmetology, Dermatology, Diabetic Clinic, Diagnostics and Body Imaging, E.N.T., General Surgery, Hypertension Clinic, Internal & General Medicine, Orthopedics, Obstetrics & Gynecology, Ophthalmology, Pediatrics, Pathology, Dental

Dental Clinics
There are a number of clinics used by CNA-Q staff and their families and have been found to be of excellent quality and service. However, it is advisable to consult with your neighbors in order to obtain references before making appointments.

Pharmacies

Prescription Medications
There are many pharmacies in Doha, some of which are open for 24-hours. Pharmacies appear to be well stocked. Many common non-addictive medicines that require a prescription in other parts of the world are available over the counter in Doha. Talking to the pharmacist will usually reveal the generic brands and equivalent medications which are available without prescription. However, some individuals may find that a particular brand or form of medicine may not be readily available in Qatar. If you regularly take a prescription medication it is advisable that you acquire enough of the medication to last until your return to Canada whether that be during the Christmas break or the summer. For example, Hormone Replacement Therapy is not readily available in Qatar and is not covered by the College’s benefit plan. If you do stock up on other medications before you leave Canada, make sure you download and print the InterGlobal Claims Form and take it to your Canadian doctor for completion so that you can be reimbursed for the medications covered by the benefits plan.

Religious Organizations

Baha’i Faith
512-7252 (Rob Bianchi, CNA-Q employee)

Canadian Muslim Society of Doha (CMSD)
503-4614 (Samah Gamar, CNA-Q employee)

Church of the Epiphany
Anglican and Allied Churches
PO Box 3, Doha
442-4329

Location - Services, Doha English Speaking School

Regular services, Bible study, Sunday school, Choir etc. ‘Grapevine’ monthly magazine available by written request to AA Church, PO Box 3210, Doha, Qatar.

Church of Our Lady of the Rosary

Roman Catholic Church
PO Box 1202, Doha
442-6831

Location - American International School
Contact - Father Tom Veneracion

Regular weekly services, Catechism classes for children.

Doha Fellowship (Non-denominational)
436-1283

Grace Fellowship (Non-denominational/Evangelical)
450-7167
Email: secretary@graceqatar.org
Website: www.graceqatar.org

Qatar International Christian Ministry (Non-denominational Christian)
553-4685

Zen Buddhism
495-2713 (Marc Colbeck, CNA-Q employee)