Evening classes in private schools now available for Qatari students for the first time

DOHA, Qatar: Private schools and kindergartens in Qatar have made around 15,000 school seats available under the Ministry of Education and Higher Education’s social responsibility initiative, according to insights published by Al Raya Newspaper.

Dr Rania Yousry Mohamed, Director of the Private Schools and Kindergartens Department and Acting Director of the Private Schools Licensing Department at the Ministry, said efforts are underway to complete the placement process before the start of the new academic year.

Four Categories of School Seats

According to Dr Rania, the initiative provides school places under four main categories to support different groups of students and families.

These include:

Completely free seats for eligible students from different segments and nationalities.
Discounted seats with varying levels of fee reductions.
Free seats for students with disabilities in specialised and inclusive schools.
Educational voucher seats for Qatari students.
The level of discount varies from one participating school to another. In some cases, schools cover most of the education costs, leaving parents responsible for only a small portion of the fees.

130 Free Seats Allocated for Students with Disabilities

A total of 130 complimentary school seats have been allocated specifically for students with disabilities.

The seats are available through both specialised and inclusive schools that form part of the educational services network supporting students with disabilities.

The initiative aims to expand access to suitable educational opportunities while ensuring that students receive the support and learning environment appropriate to their needs.

Clarification on Opportunities for Qatari Students

Dr Rania clarified that Qatari students are not restricted to educational voucher seats. They can also apply for other free-seat categories offered by participating private schools, provided they meet the relevant eligibility requirements.

She explained that there is a distinction between free public scholarships and scholarships supported through educational vouchers.

Students applying for a free public scholarship must meet specific conditions, including applicable income requirements and the criteria of the relevant category. Meanwhile, the educational voucher system has introduced new provisions, including the removal of the previous QR35,000 maximum family income limit.

Around 3,250 Students Already Placed

The ministry has so far successfully placed approximately 3,250 students across the different available seat categories.

Dr Rania said the placement process involves several stages of auditing and reviewing applications to ensure that eligibility requirements and procedures are properly followed.

The ministry is increasing its efforts ahead of the new academic year and plans to complete the allocation process between August 25 and August 30, 2026.

More School Seats Could Be Added

The total number of available seats could increase further as the ministry continues to coordinate with private schools.

Dr Rania noted that schools have already added additional capacity, including 400 seats from one school and 300 seats from another within a short period.

More places could become available as additional schools participate or existing schools expand their offerings.

The initiative also benefits private schools with vacant capacity by allowing them to utilise available places while providing greater educational opportunities for students and easing the burden on families.

Evening Classes Introduced for Qatari Students

For the first time under the initiative, evening classes are being offered to Qatari students.

Dr Rania explained that some private schools have reached capacity during morning hours but still have available places in the evening. The ministry therefore introduced the option after consulting families and seeking their views through schools.

Some parents considered evening classes useful for children involved in sports, families with different work schedules, or households looking for greater flexibility in their daily routines.

Both male and female Qatari students have already registered for the evening classes.

Private Schools to Receive Recognition

The Ministry of Education and Higher Education also plans to recognise private schools that make significant contributions to the social responsibility initiative.

According to Dr Rania, schools demonstrating outstanding contributions throughout the academic year will be publicly acknowledged at the end of the year.

The ministry plans to present titles and awards as part of an incentive programme aimed at encouraging greater participation from private schools.

The initiative highlights the role of private educational institutions in supporting families, making better use of available school capacity and contributing to Qatar’s wider community development efforts.