DOHA: Private schools have been banned from enrolling children aged above four years in kindergarten and preparatory classes, in a move by the Supreme Education Council (SEC) that has upset some schools and parents.
School operators say the decision has come at a time when they are busy finalising preparations for the new academic year, which begins in September.
The SEC recently sent a circular to private schools and kindergartens fixing age limits for children seeking admission in different grades.
Accordingly, the enrolment age for kindergarten students has been fixed at three years and that for preparatory (KG2) students at four years. Schools are not permitted to enrol children aged above four in the KG/preparatory classes.
The minimum age for grade 1 (primary level) students has been fixed at five but schools are permitted to enrol children aged up to eight years.
The circular also asked the schools to a fix a date for registration of new students for the next academic year, and to announce it in advance.
School officials say the maximum age for KG/preparatory students has been reduced from five to four years, upsetting their enrolment plans for the forthcoming academic year.
“We will lose many students in the KG classes due to the new decision. We have already started admission in all classes and even prepared new classrooms for the KG level, anticipating a number of children aged five,” said an official.
School operators said they should have been informed of the decision well in advance so that they could plan accordingly.
“The SEC should give a grace period to the schools for implementing the decision,” said another official.
Qatari social networking sites were abuzz with discussions on the issue yesterday, after Al Sharq carried a report airing the concerns of the schools.
“Why does the decision apply only to private schools? Why are Independent schools excluded”, asked a commentator.
The maximum age for KG/preparatory students in Independent schools remains five, as mentioned in the education guide recently released by the SEC.
Another commentator asked what difference did it make whether a child was enrolled in school at the age of four or five.
“The decision should have been issued earlier, before the schools announced their admission plans,” commented another. Sources from some Indian schools that started their academic year in April said they had received the circular earlier, in April.
“We don’t have a problem with the age specifications because they are in conformity with rules already laid down by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE),” said an official. All Indian schools here are affiliated to the New Delhi-based CBSE.
THE PENINSULA
