Qatar- Emir issues laws on schools penal code

(MENAFN- The Peninsula)

DOHA: Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani yesterday issued two laws — one to regulate private schools and the other amending some provisions of a penal code that was issued 11 years ago.

Both the laws (Law No. 23 of 2015 regulating private schools) and (Law No. 22 of 205 amending some provisions of the penal code) have already become effective.

They are to be published in the official gazette reports Qatar News Agency. Incidentally Law No. 22 of 2015 amends some provisions of Law 11 of 2004.

Law No. 23 applies to all private schools owned by individuals or entities that impart education from the kindergartens (KGs) to the secondary (12th standard) levels.

Out of purview of this law are cultural centres set up by global bodies with agreements with Qatar training centres and industrial training facilities set up by companies to improve the skills of their workers or provide them training. Educational service centres are not covered by this law.

One of its salient feature is that the law gives the Supreme Education Council (SEC) the authority to set up private schools with the schools that have international reputation with an agreement that they must run such schools.

The SEC enjoys control over all private schools and has the right to supervise them their curriculum as well as their buildings and the quality of education being imparted. It has the authority to launch investigations against the licence holder and staff members in the case of breach of law and punish the culprit.

An errant staff member’s wages can be forfeited for two months. He can also be dismissed and additionally his terminal benefits can be denied.

Those applying to open a private school must at least be 21 years of age and qualified as per rules and must meet all other conditions of licensing.

They must provide bank guarantee and the buildings and facilities of the school must not be used for any other purpose. The condition of bank guarantee can though be waived by the minister.

A school licence is to be for a year or for five years at the most. The licensing and licence renewal fees are to be fixed by a ministerial decision. No private school is allowed to increase the fee without written permission from the SEC. And all schools must submit a list of their fees and expenditure to the SEC on an annual basis.

The other law (No. 22 of 2015) amends some provisions of the penal code issued vide Law No. 11 of 2004. One of the amendments increases jail term to up to three years and a fine of up to QR200000 or either for insulting or damaging the national flag or the national flag of another GCC country or the flag of an international local or regional organisation.

The other amendment raises jail term to up to three years for a public servant for hindering the execution of a court order or a decision of the public prosecution 30 days after being warned to implement the decision which is in his authority to implement.

In the amended penal code drinking gambling and begging have been included in titles as crimes and collecting donations for oneself or on someone else’s behalf illegally attracts a fine of QR50000 or jail for up to a year or either. The collected amount will also be confiscated.

Newspapers publishing requests for unauthorised donations face closure for up to a year and a fine of QR100000. The amendment prescribes jail term from three to 15 years and a fine of up to QR200000 or either for a person found practising sorcery for monetary benefits or for free. The person who mediates or arranges sorcery or opening a shop or an office for the purpose also attracts these punitive measures.

The Peninsula

the peninsula