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ISO 9001:2008 CERTIFIED NEWSPAPER 2 February 2013 21 Rabial I 1434 - Volume 17 Number 5598 Price: QR2 ON SATURDAY Mega projects set to push up property prices DOHA: Land and property prices are expected to rise considerably in the near future as mega development projects are launched and a rising number of interna- tional companies make a beeline to enter the booming Qatari market, real estate sector sources say. After land and property prices went up almost 50 percent last year, a lull is being witnessed in sale transactions for the past four weeks, data issued by the real estate registration department of the justice min- istry show. “This is a lull before a storm,” a market source said, hinting the market would look up in the near future. Sales of land and property totalled QR2.1bn in the past four weeks as against QR3.1bn recorded in the same period in 2012, showing a 41 percent drop. “Land and property prices are very high. That might be affecting demand for the time being. But soon the situation is expected to reverse,” said a source. Market sources say the demand for land and property is likely to shoot up as soon as some mega projects are launched. Since bank rates remain low, the sources expect a heavy flow of liquidity from the banking industry to the real estate market. Prince Muqrin named second deputy PM of Saudi Arabia RIYADH: The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz of Saudi Arabia has named former intelli- gence chief Prince Muqrin bin Abdulaziz as second deputy prime minister, a role historically seen as making the incum- bent second in line to become king. The role means Muqrin will be in charge REINING IN of the day-to-day running of government if both King Abdullah, who is also prime minister, and Crown Prince Salman, who is first deputy prime minister, are both unwell or travelling abroad. One killed as police clash PRIVATE SCHOOLS with Egypt protesters CAIRO: At least one protester was shot dead and dozens wounded yester- day when riot police clashed with dem- onstrators demanding the overthrow of Egyptian President Mohammed Mursi, THE ISSUE witnesses said. Youths threw petrol bombs and shot fire- works at the outer wall of Mursi’s Cairo 2010 that a law was being drafted by a special Some are also known for fining erring stu- presidential compound as night fell. Police Talk of having a new law in place Abraham Augusthy committee. dents, which many parents swear is an excuse responded by firing water cannon and tear for private schools that have It is time an extensive law for private schools to mobilise funds. gas, leading to skirmishes in the surround- mushroomed all over the country is brought into force since the existing legis- The government recently barred private Design: ing streets. with increasing student intake, has lation was passed 33 years ago, in 1980, say schools from forcing students to buy school See also page 8 education sector sources. uniforms from them. been going on for more than two The minister of education and higher educa- Local Arabic daily Al Sharq conducted an The Shard, western Europe’s years now, and it is expected that tion had issued a ministerial decision (Number online survey in March 2011 covering a sample tallest tower, opens it might eventually see the light of 8) in 2009 empowering the SEC to apply its of 1,500 people — apparently all parents — and rules and regulations to private schools until the majority (64 percent) of them said they were LONDON: The Shard, western Europe’s day sooner rather than later. a new law regulating these schools was passed. dissatisfied with private schools, citing ‘exorbi- highest skyscraper and the pinnacle of the So the law of 1980 continues to be in force, tant fee and lack of quality education’ as major transformation of London’s long-neglected he State Cabinet, at its weekly meet- but the minister gave the SEC the authority reasons. “They are like government schools south bank of the River Thames, opened ing last Wednesday, discussed a to make ‘adjustments’ in the legislation and except that they are very expensive,” Al Sharq its doors to the public yesterday. communication from the Minister apply its terms and conditions of licensing and had quoted some respondents as saying about The Shard — 95 percent financed by Tof Education and Higher Education other rules regarding educational standards, the mushrooming private schools. Qatar — houses a premium hotel, sev- who is also ex-officio secretary general of the curriculum, buildings and qualifications of the A new law is indeed needed to regulate pri- eral restaurants, 12 floors of apartments, Supreme Education Council (SEC) regarding teaching staff. vate schools as many of its provisions have lost 600,000 square feet of office space as well the above draft law. The new law is likely to focus on every aspect relevance due to the changes that have taken as the viewing deck. Mayor Boris Johnson PAGEThe private schools’ 6 office at the SEC, the of private schools that, barring the community place in the country over the past 33 years, cut the ribbon for the first public visitors education sector regulator formed a decade ago schools run by the embassies of the countries with the population having considerably mul- atop the 310-metre futuristic tower looming to introduce grassroots-level educational reform concerned, many parents claim are notorious tiplied ever since. over London bridge. in the country, had announced in October for charging high fees. Continued on page 4 See also page 24 THE PENINSULA & AGENCIES www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 4455 7741 | Advertising: 4455 7837 / 4455 7780 FEBRUARY 2, 2013 ON SATURDAY 02 www.thepeninsulaqatar.comwww.thepeninsulaqatar.com Home High fees, lack of quality worrying parents programme allows Qatari students to pursue is shortage of good private schools, which has School principal at the American School of Schools, parents looking studies in 32 private schools with state support. resulted in long waiting lists for admissions,” Doha. Each Qatari student will get up to QR28,000 said Al Shaikh. Asna Nafees, principal of DPS- Modern Indian annually to pay his or her school fees. She expressed the hope that the new law School, expressed the hope that the SEC would forward to reforms in The objective of the scheme is to provide more would address the issue of high fees charged by give schools “proper guidance” in all matters. options to Qatari students in quality education, some private schools. “There is a communication gap on some the education sector. and it has given a major boost to private schools. “It is true that some private schools are charg- issues. Today, we got a message from the SEC In a move to acquaint expatriate students ing very high fees, and this should be monitored. asking us to provide details about all our teach- with Qatari history and culture, the SEC has They may be providing quality education, but ers, including their Qatar ID, email address and BY MOHAMMED IQBAL made it mandatory for private schools to teach that is no justification for raising fees exorbi- educational qualifications. When we sought a Qatar’s history, starting from the current aca- tantly. The new law should address such issues,” clarification, we were asked to send a repre- demic year. These schools are also required to said Al Shaikh. sentative to the SEC office. It would be helpful n line with the rapid and fundamental teach Arabic and Islamic history if they have School buildings are another issue that needs if things are explained properly from the very changes taking place in the education Qatari students on their rolls or Arab/Muslim immediate attention, she said. beginning,” she said. sector in Qatar, the Supreme Education students wishing to study these two subjects. “Many private schools are functioning in She appreciated the SEC’s decision on ICouncil (SEC) is working on a new law to There are also regulations to ensure that all buildings that are not suitable to run a school. teaching of Qatar’s history, Arabic and Islamic regulate the growing number of private schools private schools respect the moral and religious They don’t have adequate play areas and outdoor studies in private schools, but said there was in the country. values and traditions upheld by the country. facilities for children. Some of them are func- confusion among schools on this issue in the A senior official who headed the Council’s The SEC has not disclosed the details of tioning in villas. This is not good, especially for beginning because the decision was not properly Private Schools Office until recently, said the the law in the making. In a lecture organised young children,” said Al Shaikh. explained to the schools. new law will bring in key amendments to the by the Consumer Protection Department at There is also a need to improve communica- Dr G Manulal, principal of Bhavan’s existing law (No. 7), issued in 1980. the Ministry of Business and Trade last year, tion between parents and school administra- Public School, said the SEC, despite its strict A new law has become necessary apparently Fawziya Al Khater, former head of the SEC’s tions. Parents have negligible or no role in the monitoring, had given private schools flexibility because the existing one was issued more than Private Schools Office, hinted that the law will management of many schools, noted Al Shaikh. regarding curricula and academic systems.