DOHA: The Supreme Education Council (SEC) has reduced the prices of textbooks for the newly introduced subject, Qatar history, but several expatriate schools say they have not yet received the books.
Since last year, SEC has made it mandatory for all private schools to teach Qatar history. It has prepared two books for the subject in English, which together cost QR180. The reader for grades 1 to 10 costs QR126 and the workbook is priced at QR54.
Some expatriate schools have collected money from students but have not yet provided the books. Complaints from parents about the high prices of the books had prompted some expat schools to take up the issue with the SEC.
An Indian school recently sent a circular to parents saying the prices of both books have been reduced from QR180 to QR101. It also informed parents that the balance QR79 will be refunded.
Several parents, who expressed happiness over the decision to reduce the prices, wondered why their children have not been given the books until now.
“We are happy that the prices have been reduced. If the books are not ready, why did the school force children to pay the money in advance? Why are they not refunding the whole money,” asked a parent.
School officials say they couldn’t distribute the books because they didn’t receive sufficient copies from the SEC.
“We understand that the SEC has not prepared enough copies of the books required for all private schools. We have got a few books and are teaching the subject using their photocopies,” said the principal of an Indian school.
He said the school had taken up the issue with the SEC and was awaiting reply. “We will refund the money to the students if the SEC says the books will not be ready this year.”
Even if the books are issued, schools would face difficulty in convincing parents to buy them in the middle of the academic year. The Peninsula
