The Qatari teacher deserves appreciation and respect from us for the constructive efforts she makes and her vital and effective role and noble mission in the field of education.
When we speak about the Qatari female teacher, beautiful memories and images come rushing to the mind, memories entrenched there by this virtuous sister who proved her worth with her effective performance.
We must remember that Qatari women occupy 95 percent of the positions in this profession. Teaching is Qatari women’s most preferred profession.
However, it is sad to see their numbers falling despite the lure of good salaries and the convenient location of schools, which are close to residential areas.
Due to turbulent conditions in the field of education, even those working as teachers are considering resigning while some others have already quit and new graduates are reluctant to teach in schools for many reasons, including:
— The way school operators treat Qatari women teachers.
— Increasing school classes and imposition of English as the medium of instruction for some subjects.
— Restrictions in matters such as maternity leave, sick leave and emergency leave.
— Requiring teachers to attend intensive training programmes and seminars after working hours, and assignments and other requirements that take up their time and energy and thereby affect their performance.
— The suffering of some teachers who work in model schools and get harassed and put in embarrassing situations by male students.
— Qatari teachers carry administrative and supervisory burdens that are not part of their jobs and exceed their capacity and energy.
— Extended working hours, which does not allow them to fulfil their duties towards their families.
— Having to make preparations for the next school day and tests, which makes them work round the clock, affecting their mental and physical health.
All the above factors make school jobs unattractive to Qatari teachers even as their services are increasingly needed. As a result, teachers from other countries will take the place of Qatari teachers.
Urgent action must be taken to encourage graduates to take up the teaching profession and remove their fears in this regard, and to make sure that what happened to male teachers does not happen to the women. We do not want this vital and sensitive field to lose its Qatari cadres.
