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QNA
Doha
Private parties have submitted 116 bids for the 11 plots of land earmarked for construction and operation of private schools, the Ministerial Group for the Encouragement and Participation of the Private Sector in the Economic Development Projects of Qatar, chaired by Prime Minister and Minister of Interior HE Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al Thani, has announced.
The evaluation of the offers and interviews of the investors are being conducted to select the winning bids.
The school project is expected to offer an additional 12,000 seats for students of different grades and levels going a long way towards meeting the increasing demand for admissions.
The land project for private schools is part of the similar projects that the country is planning to launch in various sectors, and is in line with the directives of the Emir HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al Thani to provide quality education for everyone in Qatar.
Considering the importance of the project, the Ministerial Group conducted a survey, through the Ministry of Economy and Commerce (MEC) and in cooperation with the Ministry of Education and Higher Education, between November 15 - December 15, 2016, aiming to develop a clear mechanism for allocation of land plots.
The survey paved the way for the development of general policies related to the project and formulation of the tender procedures, the Ministerial Group said in a press statement on Saturday.
Earlier in May, the MEC organised a workshop for investors interested in setting up private schools in the country. The workshop explained the procedures for submission of tenders and the technical requirements for the development and operation of schools. The investors were also briefed on the procedure and standards adopted for the evaluation of tenders.
"Investors are confident of Qatar's diverse and dynamic economy which has achieved high growth rates despite the ongoing blockade of the country," the Ministry of Education and Higher Education has said.

"There is a high demand from private players to invest in education. This is mainly due to Qatar National Vision 2030 and its clear objectives, the political will of the country's leadership, government's support for the education and training sector, and the high annual budget allocation for education which was 10.4 percent of the total expenditures for the fiscal year 2017," the Ministry of Education and Higher Education said.
In a press statement, Director of the Public Relations and Communication Department of the Ministry of Education and Higher Education Hassan Abdullah al Mohamedi said that the allocation of land plots for schools took into consideration various aspects such as population density and cultural diversity, in conformity with the set guidelines of the State's future development plan.
Mohamedi said that 10 investors are bidding for the school allotted in Umm Qarn with priority to the American educational curriculum. Sixteen bids have been received for the school in Rawdat Al-Hamam area with priority to the national curriculum for girls and 20 bids for the school in Al-'Ab area with priority to the Filipino or Indian curriculum, he said.
One private school is allocated in Al-Thameed area with priority to the British curriculum, which is contested by 13 investors, while 10 investors are bidding for another school allocated for Sumaisma area with priority to either the national curriculum or the British system.
Eighteen investors are competing for two private schools in Al-Khor region and 29 investors are competing for the four schools allocated in Al-Wukair area with the priority to the national curriculum, Egyptian curriculum, Indian curriculum and the American curriculum.
The ministry pointed out that the increasing demand for public education is caused by the increase in population rates, as Qatar has become a professional attraction for residents of different nationalities working for entities that offer a number of advantages, including education of children, which encouraged investors to invest in private education.
Besides, the ranking of Qatar as the world's top fifth place in terms of quality education and 11th in the index of school internet connectivity according to the Global Competitiveness Report 2016/2017 published by the World Economic Forum in Davos and other indicators have played an important role in attracting investors.
The facilities provided by Qatar to the private sector for investment, namely customs exemptions, exemption from electricity and water bills, granting land for incentive fees and the provision of educational resources and vouchers to Qatari students to broaden their school choices for optimal academic are yet other reasons that encourage investment in education.
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19/11/2017
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