ISO 9001:2008 CERTIFIED NEWSPAPER Sunday 24 March 2013 12 Jumada I 1434 - Volume 18 Number 5648 Price: QR2 Asset mgmt Off-spinner business Lyon checks picking up India’s progress Business | 17 Sport | 28 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 4455 7741 | Advertising: 4455 7837 / 4455 7780 SEC frames PM opens new Omani embassy new rules to curb tuitions Extra classes at Independent Schools DOHA: In a bid to curb the coaching for select student but menace of private tuitions the new directive could make it in the country, the Supreme more organised and inclusive. Education Council (SEC) has The SEC has directed the made it mandatory for all schools to provide extra coach- Independent Schools to pro- ing to students who need special vide free extra classes to their support to cope with their studies. weak students after the regular The classes would range from working hours. compensatory and bridging pro- Through this move, the SEC grammes, preparatory classes for has set an example for all the internal and international tests schools in the country and sent a and for qualifying examinations strong message to those schools for university admission. that have given a free hand to Special coaching for outstand- their teachers to conduct tuitions ing students to help them excel in the privacy of their homes. in their respective areas has also The SEC said that the decision been proposed, along with classes was intended to curb private tui- for weak students to improve tions, considering their negative their performance. The Prime Minister and Foreign Minister H E Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem bin Jabor Al Thani inaugurating the new premises of the Omani embassy impact on the students, families The students will be identified in the Diplomatic Area in Doha yesterday. and the society, the Qatar News based on their performance in the Agency reported yesterday. school examinations. The schools This rampant practice has should develop special curricula encouraged absenteeism in the for these additional classes and classes and made students lazy, assign trained and experienced noted the SEC. teachers. Smallpox kills 50 sheep at private farm Qatar several years ago had There should not be more than imposed a blanket ban on private 15 students in one class. The DOHA: An outbreak of small- He added that if the spread of The sheep which died of small- animals dying. The department tuitions but it was not effectively classes will be conducted over four pox at a sheep farm in Al Khor the disease was not contained, the pox were also suffering from other launched a programme to immu- implemented. Private tutors con- to eight weeks, with 16 hours for has killed more than 50 ani- death toll may shoot up. diseases like pneumonia, Qahtani nise all animals in the country tinued to thrive, amid a never- each subject. No student should mals, sparking fears among According to Qahtani, a month- said. from eight infectious diseases ending debate on how to curtail not be given more than three other animal farm owners, a and-half ago, several of the 700 No other veterinary centre in that are known to break out this worldwide phenomenon, subjects and no teacher should senior official said. sheep at the farm tested positive the country has received any case every year. which is often described a “nec- be assigned to teach more than The veterinary centre at for smallpox. of smallpox, added Qahtani. The animals are administered essary evil”. three subjects. Al Khor received several ani- On instructions of the veteri- Discounting fears of a spread the vaccines once or twice every The SEC has now come out Besides the teachers, the school mals with smallpox from a pri- nary centre, the infected animals of the disease, the official said year. with a more practical solution, should also assign a supervisor to vate farm, Director of Animals have been separated from the that smallpox breaks out almost The centres do not spare any making extra coaching manda- monitor the academic and admin- Department at the Ministry health ones. Those suffering from every year in Qatar and there effort to protect animals in the tory on schools. Some schools have istrative aspects of the special of Environment, Dr Qasim Al the infection are under treatment was no need to worry as this country, Qahtani said. already been offering additional coaching. THE PENINSULA Qahtani, told Al Sharq. and are showing progress. is the first instance of so many THE PENINSULA Syria opposition Obama wraps up Middle East visit presence at Arab AMMAN: US President Barack Obama strolled among the ancient Jordanian ruins at Petra yesterday, before heading home after a Summit under four-day Middle East tour dominated by his embrace of Israel. Obama flew by helicopter to view the rose-coloured stone ruins of discussion the ancient Nabataean city, after winds from a sandstorm abated and allowed him to make the 55-minute trip across the rugged plains and DOHA: Ahmed Ben Hilli, the mountains of Jordan. Deputy Secretary-General of On Friday, high winds in Israel forced Obama to take his motorcade the Arab League, has said the instead of his Marine One chopper to visit the Church of the Nativity representation of the Syrian in Bethlehem, and there had been fears his jaunt to Petra would also opposition to the Arab Summit be scrapped. See also page 10 to open in Doha on Tuesday is under discussion at the Arab Baghdad is 2013 Arab Capital of Culture foreign ministers’ preparatory meeting for the summit. Speaking to reporters after BAGHDAD: Baghdad was inaugurated as the 2013 Arab Capital of the meeting of the permanent Culture yesterday, the latest in a series of steps which officials hope representatives and senior offi- will put Iraq back on the map after decades of conflict. cials of Arab League members The ceremony marking the event was held under a massive tent which opened here yesterday, in the Iraqi capital’s Zawraa Park, and featured a choir singing songs Ben Hilli said, “Consultations and a performance by renowned Iraqi musician Naseer Shamma, as are on among Arab leaders and well as speeches by senior Iraqi politicians and Arab League chief officials over representation of Nabil Al Arabi. the Syrian opposition to the The events surrounding the Arab Capital of Culture will include summit.” music and dance performances, photography exhibitions, as well as folk Elaborating, he said that the arts and crafts shows. “Baghdad, which was a source of knowledge for meeting of the permanent rep- The Aspire Tower plunged in darkness at 8.30pm yesterday to mark Earth Hour in Doha. (KAMMUTTY VP) the entire world, is rising again today thanks to the efforts of Iraqis resentatives and senior officials and their Arab brothers,” Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki said. of member countries of the Arab League has not dealt with such a topic. “They agreed to refer Taliban threaten to kill Musharraf the issue to the Arab ministerial Landmarks go dark for Earth Hour meeting tomorrow and the mat- MIRANSHAH, PAKISTAN: The Pakistani Taliban yesterday ter will be decided tomorrow”, SYDNEY: Iconic landmarks Opera House turn a deep green to dimming down as visitors were threatened to assassinate former military ruler Pervez Musharraf Ben Hilli told reporters. and skylines were plunged symbolise renewable energy. given the chance to pedal bicycles when he returns to the country to contest elections after nearly five The meeting of the perma- into darkness yesterday as Organisers said hundreds of to generate power to illuminate years in self-imposed exile. The 69-year-old escaped three assassi- nent representatives and senior the “Earth Hour” switch-off millions of people across more an egg-shaped artwork. nation attempts when in office from 1999 to 2008, a target of Islamist officials of member countries of of lights around the world got than 150 countries were turning In the Chinese capital Beijing, extremists because of his alliance in the US-led “war on terror” and the Arab League concluded here under way to raise awareness of off their lights for 60 minutes last lights were shut off at the former attempts to clamp down on militants. “We have prepared a spe- yesterday and it will prepare for climate change. night — at 8:30pm local time — in Olympic stadium, the “Bird’s cial squad of suicide bombers for Musharraf,” Taliban spokesman the foreign ministers’ preparatory Sydney kicked off the event a symbolic show of support for the Nest”, while in the commer- Ehsanullah Ehsan told AFP by telephone from an undisclosed loca- meeting to the 24th regular ses- at 8.30pm (0930 GMT), cutting planet. cial hub of Shanghai buildings tion. “They will attack Musharraf after he arrives (in) Pakistan.” sion of the Arab summit to open lights to cheers and applause from Japan switched off soon after along the famed riverfront Bund Musharraf is due to fly into Karachi, his home town and Pakistan’s in Doha on Tuesday. a small crowd which had gathered Australia, with the illumination took part. AFP largest city of 18 million, today. QNA to see the skyline dim and Sydney on the landmark Tokyo Tower Another picture on page 11 See also page 13 SUNDAY 24 MARCH 2013 02 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com HOME League will rise up to Arab aspirations: Qatar Qatar takes over presidency of 24th session DOHA: The meeting of the through hard work and strong international norms and conven- permanent representatives and will that can fulfil the aspirations tions by repressive and criminal senior officials of member-coun- of the Arab peoples to a promis- methods that had dangerous and tries of the Arab League opened ing future.