(MENAFN- Gulf Times) The nominal
output of education sector's various components has grown by an annual
average of 11.3% over the past six years (2011-2016), the Ministry of
Economy and Commerce (MEC) has said.
This rate exceeds the nominal
GDP growth rate, leading to a rise in the contribution of education
sector to GDP to 2.1% in 2016 compared to 1.8% in 2015, according to an
analytical report.
In the report on the growth of education
sector, the MEC explained that 38 new schools were established between
2014 and 2016. The number of persons employed in the education sector
increased from 26,900 in 2011 to 47,000 in 2016.
The report
highlights the important role that the sector plays in the economic
development process, particularly through its value added contribution
to the economy and the development of a qualified labour force, which in
turns bolsters the productivity of the national economy and its future
growth.
The report also identifies promising sectors in light of
local, regional and global considerations and determines the nature of
policies and procedures necessary to support these activities and
enhance growth opportunities.
The report highlights the
remarkable growth of the Qatari economy in recent years and the
accompanying population increase which necessitates an increase in the
capacity of the education sector to meet the growing demand for
educational services. The report noted that the education sector's
response to these growing requirements was supported by national
policies aimed at bolstering investments in this sector to improve its
output in line with Qatar National Vision 2030.
The report
emphasised that school education, which represents a pillar of this
sector, grew by 4.2% between 2014 and 2016 with the establishment of 38
new schools. Kindergartens accounted for 42.6% of the total number of
schools in 2016, compared to 42% in 2014, followed by primary schools at
26.7%, while preparatory and secondary schools accounted for 16% and
14%, respectively.
This increase in the number of schools will
accommodate an increase in the number of students from 268,000 in 2014
to 289,000 in 2016 at a growth rate of 7.5%. Private school accommodated
62.6% of the total number of new students at different levels of
education.
The report also noted an increase of 88% in the number of
university students across Qatar from about 15,300 in 2010 to 28,700 in
2016, a rise of 2% compared to 2015. Public universities accommodated
around 94% of new students, an increase of 3.7% compared to 2015.
The
growing role of the education sector is also reflected in its
contribution to employment. The total number of employees in the sector
increased from 26,900 in 2011 to 47,000 in 2016, an increase of almost
75%, which is significantly higher than the growth rate of 53.9% in the
total number of employees in Qatar.
This relative high growth rate
increased the contribution of the education sector to the total
workforce from 2.1% in 2011 to about 2.3% in 2016.
In early 2017, the
Ministry of Economy and Commerce, in co-operation with the Ministry of
Education and Higher Education, has offered investment opportunities for
the development and operation of private schools in a bid to stimulate
the participation of the private sector and encourage investment in the
education sector.
A total of 11 new schools will be established with
a capacity of 11,000 students (1000 students / school). This
significant project will have a positive impact on the education sector
by improving infrastructure and supporting the quality of training and
education. The initiative will also lead to the development and
recruitment of a highly efficient workforce while accommodating new
students flocking to Qatar in coming years as well as diversifying the
education curricula through the opening of diverse and distinctive
schools.
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