The School Day and School Year - Qatar - Angloinfo (2024)

FAQs

The School Day and School Year - Qatar - Angloinfo? ›

The school year in Qatar starts in September and finishes in June, which means there is a long summer holiday. Many expatriate families, where one partner is not working, take their children back to their home countries for the summer once the term has finished to avoid the heat.

The school year begins in early September. The long break will usually occur during the months of July to September. Other school holidays include religious and cultural holidays such as Eid Al Adha, Eid Al Fitr, and Al Hijri. The National Day is also a public holiday observed across the country.

A typical school day starts at 7:00 am for all primary and secondary students. School operates from Sunday through to Thursday, with sport fixtures and whole school events that may take place on Friday or Saturday.

Government-funded primary schools are free and universal for Qatari citizens. Classes are in Arabic, with mandatory courses including English, math, science, and Islamic studies. The quality of instruction varies based on the individual school, but rote memorization and repetition are common teaching methods.

Qatari schools typically have three breaks per year: December (typically mid-late): 1.5-week mid-term holiday. March: one-week mid-term holiday. June–August: eight-week end-of-year holiday.

Term 1: August 27th - December 14th. Term 2: January 8th - March 21st. Term 3: March 24th - June 13th.

Find out the timings of the academic year and school day in Qatar... School hours are generally 07:00-08:00 and 12:30-14:30, which can mean that after-school care may be necessary if both parents are working until later. Some schools offer after-hours classes or clubs, sometimes for an extra fee.

Women's education rights in Qatar

Women in Qatar have equal rights to access and pursue an education.

Public school is free for Qataris, but usually gender-segregated and difficult for expats to access. They also teach primarily in Arabic, which is an excluding factor for most expats. Private schools, which are often accredited by international educational standards, are much more attractive to expats.

The school week in Qatar runs from Sunday to Thursday and each day is structured to keep students active with time to socialise with their peers, enjoy lunch, and engage with the co-curricular activities (available to Years 1 – 13).

Does Qatar have homework? ›

Students in Qatar are expected to take the lead in their school and academic studies. Both public and private schools hold classes in different rooms, based on the subjects being taught. Students are evaluated on daily homework, class participation, and peri- odic written exams.

Qatar is one of the few countries in the world that offers (almost) free universal healthcare to all its citizens.

Locals are friendly and helpful, but they do expect expats to respect cultural and religious norms and dress and act conservatively out in public. When at your home or another private residence, feel free to go as naked and act as boorishly as you please! The Islamic culture and calendar dictate daily life.

The working week in Qatar is generally from Sunday to Thursday, with Friday and Saturday being off. However, most businesses are open on Friday, with just half-a-day on Thursday. Offices usually work in two shifts, from 7.30am to 12pm and from 3.30pm to 7.30pm. Banks are generally from Sunday to Thursday 7.30am – 1pm.

In 2013, Saudi Arabia changed the start of its two-day weekend from Thursday-Friday to Friday-Saturday to help co-ordinate business and banking days with the rest of the world. Oman, Bahrain, Kuwait and Qatar have also switched to a Friday-Saturday weekend.

Winter. The winter period runs from November to February and is a wonderful time to explore Qatar. The mild and sunny weather is ideal for outdoor adventures, such as camping under the stars, a golfing holiday or just relaxing at a sidewalk café under clear blue skies.

1. Regular Semesters: University offers two 15-weeks semesters (namely Fall and Spring) and one 6-weeks summer semester. 2. Summer Short Semester: Four weeks during the summer where courses may be offered.

The school week in Qatar runs from Sunday to Thursday and each day is structured to keep students active with time to socialise with their peers, enjoy lunch, and engage with the co-curricular activities (available to Years 1 – 13).

2024-2025 academic year

The first day of classes for the 2024–2025 academic year will be September 1, 2024. For this academic year, the midterm break occurs on December 2, 2024. The school personnel will be off from July 6 to August 21, 2025. Students return to school for the 2025–2026 academic year on August 31, 2025.

The primary education system in Qatar

Kindergarten (ages three to five) Primary school (ages six to 12) Preparatory school (ages 13 to 15) Secondary school (ages 16 to 18)