In terms of education in Qatar the nation is an incredibly forward thinking country and one that believes in both nurturing the talent of the individual and that all children have an absolute right to a free and quality education from kindergarten level right through to university and beyond.

This belief led to the creation in Doha of Education City which is a unique initiative from the Qatar Foundation created to serve the educational needs of future generations and which is a physical campus that covers over 2,500 acres and houses a wide range of international university branches as well as locally established educational institutions in a variety of disciplines.

The majority of foreign universities with a branch presence in Doha are from Northern America; Virginia Commonwealth University, Georgetown University and Cornell University are just a few well known names with a strong presence in Qatar.

Local institutions that have made their home within Education City include the Qatar Science and Technology Park and the Qatar Academy.  The latter offers schooling in the International Baccalaureate and is the choice of an increasing number of expatriate parents seeking a school in Qatar through which they can develop their child’s educational enhancement and from which a child can move on smoothly into another international school if the parents decide to relocate again.

Basically Education City can be seen as the embodiment of the Qatari commitment to free and quality education for all.

For expatriate families living and working in Qatar the accessibility of international education is always a concern.  For those who wish their child to be schooled in a curriculum other than the state one or the International Baccalaureate there are various options.  The Qatar International School, Doha College and Doha English Speaking School all follow the national curriculum of England and Wales and the American School in Doha follows the US school curriculum for example.

All private schools have different fee structures and those who are relocated to jobs in Qatar by an employer are often granted an allowance as part of their remuneration package for the education of their children.

Others should apply to each of the schools they are interested in in turn and ask about fee structures, schooling and discipline methods, subjects taught and average annual grades and achievements.  Only then, armed with this information, can a parent make an informed choice about which school in Qatar to enrol their child in.