Doha, October 22 (QNA) - The Ministry of Education and Higher Education (MOEHE) on Thursday signed land allocation contracts for the construction and operation of four private schools with national companies that won tenders previously launched and evaluated by the Public Works Authority (Ashghal), the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MOCI), and the Ministry of Education and Higher Education.

The agreements were signed in the presence of HE Minister of Education and Higher Education Lolwah bint Rashid Al Khater; HE Minister of Commerce and Industry Sheikh Faisal bin Thani bin Faisal Al-Thani; HE President of Ashghal, Eng. Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Al Meer; and representatives of the development companies along with members of the committee overseeing the project to allocate land for the construction and operation of private schools and a lineup of officials and school principals.

Assistant Undersecretary for Private Education Affairs in MOEHE, Omar Abdulaziz Al Nuaimi, signed the agreements with Brail Muidu Siddiq, representing the Indian Islamic School in Al Wukair, which follows the Indian curriculum; Dr. Hamad Mubarak Al Kaabi, representing Cardiff International School in Al Wukair, which follows the Egyptian curriculum; Mohammed Nizar, representing Pearl Podar School in Al Mansoura, which follows the Indian curriculum; and Saleh Abdullah Al Sulaiti, representing Al Zaytoun International School in Al Sailiya, which also follows the Indian curriculum.

All four schools will be co-educational, offer education across all grade levels, and provide affordable tuition fees.

The agreements form part of Qatar's efforts to strengthen public-private partnerships, expand the private sector's contribution to national development, and encourage its active participation in implementing priority development projects. The initiative is expected to help meet the growing needs of the education sector while improving its efficiency and long-term sustainability.

The four planned schools are expected to provide a total of 5,000 student places. This will support the measured expansion of private education, increase the sector's capacity to accommodate rising demand for educational services, broaden the range of schooling options available to students and parents, and reinforce private education's role as a strategic partner in achieving the objectives of Qatar National Vision 2030.

MOEHE's Assistant Undersecretary, Omar Abdulaziz Al Nuaimi said the initiative represents a valuable addition to Qatar's education system and will create more diverse educational opportunities to meet the needs of students and parents.

He noted that the locations of the new schools were selected following a study that took population density and the geographical distribution of communities across the country into account.

Al Nuaimi added that the ministry would continue working to attract investors by fostering an attractive and supportive investment environment for private education. He stressed that the sector plays a pivotal role as a key partner in educational development and in improving learning outcomes in line with Qatar's aspirations and development plans.

He also highlighted the continued growth of private education in Qatar. The sector currently comprises 354 private schools and kindergartens, with 25 different curricula in use. It serves more than 271,090 students and employs 25,372 people from diverse nationalities and professional backgrounds.

Addressing incentives for investment in private education, Al Nuaimi said the government provides a broad range of benefits and facilities. These include customs exemptions, exemptions from electricity and water charges, the allocation of land and school buildings, the provision of textbooks, and educational vouchers for Qatari students, alongside other measures designed to encourage investment and support the sector's sustainability.

He said these incentives would help improve the quality of educational services while reducing the financial burden on parents.

For his part, Assistant Undersecretary for Industry and Business Development at MOCI, Saleh Majed Al Khulaifi described the signing as an important step towards strengthening public-private partnerships and expanding private sector participation in development projects, in line with the objectives of Qatar National Vision 2030.

He explained that the initiative to attract private investment into education reflects the government's commitment to creating a supportive investment environment by providing land and the necessary infrastructure, while enabling investors to undertake the financing, design, construction, operation and maintenance of the schools.

Al Khulaifi revealed that the private sector's total expected capital and operating expenditure over the project's 25-year term would amount to approximately QAR 1.48 billion.

He added that the project would attract private investment into education through the establishment and operation of four affordable private schools catering to growing demand for different curricula.

MOCI, he said, would continue coordinating with relevant authorities to support initiatives that create new investment opportunities for the private sector and contribute to sustainable economic development.

In turn, Head of the Committee for Studying and Monitoring Public-Private Partnership Projects at Ashghal, Eng. Mohammed Masoud Al Marri underscored the importance of partnership projects in strengthening integration between the public and private sectors and supporting sustainable development.

He said the signing reflected cooperation between government entities and private companies to develop educational infrastructure and improve project delivery in accordance with international best practices.

Al Marri added that Ashghal remained committed to expanding private sector participation in development projects and delivering high-quality services that meet community needs, in alignment with Qatar National Vision 2030.

Dr. Rania Yousri Mohammed, the national lead for the Public-Private Partnership and Investment Attraction Project in Private Education, said such partnerships help strengthen cooperation between government entities and private schools and kindergartens, support the development of private education, and enhance its contribution to national development.

She noted that these initiatives provide opportunities to exchange expertise, make better use of available resources and capabilities, and introduce innovative educational initiatives that improve school environments and expand opportunities for students.

Dr. Rania added that the projects would be implemented within clear governance and transparency frameworks. She also announced that new partnerships and initiatives aimed at diversifying private education services and serving students and the wider community are expected to be announced soon. (QNA)