Qatar strategy to improve education system

Qatar must strive to create more educated citizens and skilled workers if it is to move towards a knowledge-based economy, according to a World Bank document.

The document, which forms the basis of the second phase of the country’s Labour Market Strategy, has been submitted to the General Secretariat for Development Planning (GSDP). This government drive aims to improve the country’s education system and the skills of young Qataris.

“There has historically been a vicious circle between low education outcomes of Qataris, their resulting reluctance to be employed in low-skill or low-wage or poor working condition jobs in the private sector, and the pressure on government to act as an employer of the last resort,” the document said.

“The real solution rests on Qataris acquiring the right education, skills and motivation that would enable them to engage in high productivity jobs that also pay high wages.”

Sheikh Hamad bin Jabor bin Jassim Al Thani, director general, General Secretariat for Development Planning, opened a forum to discuss the LMS Sunday.

“As of now, there is only limited supply of Qatari workers to meet the needs of the labour market, especially skilled workers,” he told The Peninsula.

“Of the one million labour force of Qatar, there are just 62,000 Qataris. Even if all the 62,000 Qataris were highly skilled they could only fill less than a third of higher level positions. The annual addition of Qataris into the country’s labour force is just 3,000-3,500,” he said.

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