Doha, November 05 (QNA) - The Ministry of Education and Higher Education (MOEHE) has launched the first edition of its Educational Voucher Policy for private schools and kindergartens, aimed at expanding learning opportunities, promoting educational equity and ensuring equal opportunities for students through a clear regulatory framework that establishes support mechanisms and links eligibility to students' individual educational needs.

Speaking at the launch ceremony, Assistant Undersecretary for Private Education Affairs Omar Abdulaziz Al Naama said the new policy, based on Law No. 7 of 2012 and its amendments, as well as Council of Ministers decision No. 25 of 2023 concerning amendments to the value of educational vouchers, represents a key pillar in regulating educational support and maximising its benefits for students, particularly those with disabilities.

He explained that the policy seeks to support Qatari students in enrolling in participating private schools, ease the financial burden of education on their families, and enable parents to choose the most suitable educational environment for their children.

Al Naama noted that the policy goes beyond defining the scope of financial assistance, setting out clear eligibility criteria, application procedures and the respective responsibilities of the ministry, schools and parents. This, he said, would help standardise practices, streamline procedures and reinforce the principles of transparency and accountability. He stressed the importance of ensuring accurate information, meeting eligibility requirements and monitoring the delivery of educational services to guarantee that support reaches those entitled to receive it.

With regard to students with disabilities, Al Naama said the policy gives particular attention to this group by taking individual needs into account when determining appropriate support and services. It also promotes cooperation among families, schools and relevant authorities to provide a supportive and safe learning environment in which students can learn, participate and develop their abilities.

He added that expanding educational support must go hand in hand with quality assurance, continuous monitoring of educational services and assessment of their impact, while taking into consideration feedback from families and schools as part of ongoing improvement efforts.

He emphasised that these objectives require coordinated efforts by the ministry, schools and parents, with students' best interests remaining the top priority.

For her part, Director of the Private Schools and Kindergartens Department and Acting Director of the School Licensing Department, Dr. Rania Yousri Mohamed said the launch of the new policy stems from a comprehensive vision aimed at promoting equity, ensuring equal opportunities and safeguarding the right to education for all citizens.

She explained that the policy is built around an integrated system of financial and educational support designed to provide fairer opportunities for Qatari students, including those with disabilities, through three main pillars: strengthening educational equity, empowering families by contributing towards tuition fees, and reinforcing quality and accountability through school performance monitoring and continuous improvement of educational services.

Dr. Rania added that the policy also seeks to raise public awareness of the importance of accredited schools and improve educational quality through continuous monitoring and evaluation mechanisms. It will also facilitate access to specialised services supporting students academically, behaviourally and psychologically, while easing the financial burden on families.

She explained that the policy applies to Qatari students enrolled in participating private schools across all educational stages. It also provides additional financial assistance for students with disabilities according to their level of need and the approved eligibility criteria, with support linked to monitoring and accountability procedures and safeguards for protecting students' personal data.

She further noted that, for the first time, the policy establishes specific criteria for granting educational vouchers to newly established schools from the commencement of their operations, as well as private kindergartens operating in standalone buildings.

These criteria include school evaluation results, the availability of modern educational facilities, the promotion of national investment partnerships, the recruitment and development of national talent, and compliance with requirements relating to tuition fees, student capacity, community contributions and services for low-income families.

She also explained that the ministry has established regulations governing the continued provision of educational vouchers to schools relocating to new premises. Support will remain in place provided that the school maintains its legal entity, activities, license and educational stages, without substantial changes affecting its legal or academic status. 

Addressing the provisions concerning students with disabilities, Director of the Private Schools and Kindergartens Department and Acting Director of the School Licensing Department, Dr. Rania Yousri Mohamed said their inclusion in the educational voucher programme requires the school to obtain the ministry's approval of their individual educational plans, complete the required assessments in accordance with approved regulations, and secure approval for the applicable tuition fees.

She explained that eligibility for educational vouchers also covers students seeking to improve their academic averages in Grades 11 and 12, those transferring between different educational curricula, and students repeating an academic year until they successfully pass it, in accordance with the applicable regulations.

Regarding the children of retired individuals, she noted that educational vouchers are provided by MOEHE upon the retirement of the parent or guardian.

Dr. Rania revealed that the maximum value of an educational voucher for a Qatari student under the regular education pathway is QAR 28,000. For students with disabilities, voucher values range from QAR 43,000 to QAR 53,000 and QAR 78,000, depending on the level of support specified in the approved certificate. These amounts cover tuition fees as well as approved educational and rehabilitation services.

She added that voucher invoices are issued through the National Student Information System (NSIS) in Arabic. The first installment, representing 50 percent of the voucher value, is invoiced in October, while the remaining 50 percent is invoiced in February.

She further announced that the ministry will begin receiving applications from private kindergartens operating in standalone buildings seeking to benefit from the educational voucher programme on April 1, 2027. Results are scheduled to be announced by the end of June 2027, allowing eligible institutions to benefit from the programme during the 2027-2028 academic year.

She noted that the policy has been circulated to all private schools and kindergartens.

In the same context, Director of the Special Education and Inclusive Education Department Amna Ali Al Mulla outlined the legislative and legal foundations underpinning the new policy, foremost among them Council of Ministers Resolution No. 25 of 2023, which reinforces support for the rights of Qatari students with disabilities.

She explained that the policy establishes three levels of financial support for students with disabilities, amounting to QAR 43,000 for the first level, QAR 53,000 for the second and QAR 78,000 for the third, covering tuition fees for eligible students across different educational stages.

Al Mulla added that the categories eligible for support were identified based on scientific foundations and approved diagnostic criteria, in coordination with the Ministry of Public Health and the Ministry of Social Development and Family. She noted that implementation of the policy will take place in two phases.

The first phase will cover students with autism spectrum disorder, intellectual disabilities and associated syndromes, hearing, visual and physical disabilities, as well as dual and multiple disabilities.

The second phase will include specific learning difficulties, borderline intellectual functioning, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and speech and language disorders.

Meanwhile, MOEHE's Information Systems Department presented the procedures and steps for submitting applications electronically through the ministry's online platform, with the aim of supporting schools and simplifying the application process.

The launch of the new policy forms part of Qatar's broader efforts to strengthen an inclusive and equitable education system that addresses the needs of all segments of society and supports the abilities of students with disabilities, in line with the objectives of Qatar National Vision 2030. (QNA)