Testing times

As Qatar's education reforms programme gathers pace, the need for effective evaluation and assessment is stronger than ever.

Ten years ago, a team of independent experts visited Qatar to assess its education system, begins Adel Al Sayed, executive director of the Evaluation Institute at the Qatari Supreme Education Council (SEC).

These experts went to one of the best high schools in the country and asked the principal a few questions. "What has your school achieved? What are you proud of?" The principal thought long and hard. "We are proud of our football pitch," he replied eventually.

"And just look at our schools now," boasts Al Sayed. "Our schools now have a vision; now the principal would reply that he's proud of providing a comprehensive education system for his students."

In the four years that Education for a New Era, Qatar's reforms programme, has been running, the country has witnessed tremendous improvement in its schools and teachers. As head of the Evaluation Institute, Al Sayed's job is to oversee student assessment, school evaluation and data management.

The Institute issues annual school report cards for each of its ministry schools, private Arabic schools, and independent schools. The independent schools, founded on the principles of autonomy, accountability, variety and choice, lie at the heart of the reforms programme. The report cards evaluate a school's performance based on a wide range of criteria - from teachers' job satisfaction, to the quality of facilities, student/teacher interaction, and the effectiveness of teaching and learning.

"The intention is not to punish," says Al Sayed, "it's to improve. It's about giving people the information and tools they need, about helping them to look at themselves and see where the strengths and the weaknesses are."

The core of school evaluations come from the schools themselves. "We are pushing the schools towards self-evaluations," he continues. "This year we developed a whole system of self-evaluation for them." Teachers, principals, students, and parents rate their schools on the same criteria, allowing the institute to gain a complete picture of their standing and progress.

Every three years, Institute officials visit the schools personally to see how much progress they have made. "We go to observe the teachers, to see if they are using different methods of instruction, and look at student involvement in the classrooms," says Al Sayed.

The visits form part of the Institute's remit to foster accountability within Qatar's school system. To this end, plans are underway to introduce local school accreditations. "Accreditation will include all of the schools in Qatar, including the private international schools," he says.

"We'll inspect all the paperwork and check on all the schools." Though schools will be encouraged to gain external accreditation, the Institute's procedures will still be needed "to certify that they're really meeting all the criteria."

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