While the debate over the benefits of charter schools continues in the United States, a comparable experiment in public education is rapidly unfolding in the Middle East. In Qatar, a small nation in the Persian Gulf, over 30 government-funded schools operating independently have been established since 2004. These schools provide a range of options to families who are accustomed to a rigid and centralized education system run by the Ministry of Education. With an additional 13 independent schools set to open this autumn, this new sector will serve approximately one-third of all students in government-funded schools, according to analysts from the RAND Corporation. The Santa Monica-based research organization was hired by Qatar in 2001 to assist with the examination and reform of its K-12 education system. RAND devised three models for the government to consider, ultimately opting for a design most similar to a system of charter schools.
This design is founded on four principles: school autonomy, accountability, variety, and parental choice. The new schools, operating under three-year contracts approved by the Supreme Education Council, are adopting diverse approaches. For example, one school focuses on military leadership training, while another is a sports academy offering an international academic program. The schools have significant freedom in their operations and design but must adhere to standards in core subjects such as Arabic, English, math, and science.
A book detailing the efforts of RAND in this wealthy nation is expected to be published later this year.
The establishment of independent schools is just one element of a broader overhaul of the Qatari education system. This reform also involves adopting new curriculum standards, implementing national assessments, and introducing other accountability measures for all government-funded schools. The idea of schools run by independent operators will take time to be fully embraced by Qatari citizens, according to Sheikha Abdulla Al-Misnad, a member of the Supreme Education Council. She anticipates that as the reform gains momentum and people become more familiar and involved in the process, they will likely accept it and critically assess it.
The Qatari government is still making adjustments along the way. Earlier this year, new regulations were issued regarding school governance. Henceforth, an independent school must be managed by a single Qatari individual with a background in education. This person will serve as both the school’s principal and operator, and must establish a non-profit educational institute. Previously, a new operator or a group of individuals would set up a limited-liability company and often hire a principal to run the school. The exact implications of this change are yet to be determined.
According to the RAND analysts, the independent schools provide a stark contrast to the traditional government-run schools. The teachers in these new schools employ a more student-centered curriculum, wherein students are grouped together and encouraged to collaborate. This approach is considered innovative and distinct. One lesson that the Qatar experience, with its approximately 75,000 school-age children, may offer to the United States concerns school choice. The Qatar system has transformed itself into a choice-based system in just three years, enabling parents to select the school they want their child to attend. The costs associated with this choice have been reasonable, and the transformation has not required an extraordinary influx of resources or an entire lifetime to achieve, according to Mr. Goldman of RAND.
