Comparison of education in the uk and qatar essay examples

Education in the UK and Qatar

Introduction

Scholars in the field of education have published several researches comparing education systems of various countries. All over the world, behind every system of education there are factors, features or determinants that help shape each one of them. The system of education in the UK is one that has majorly been replicated in other countries especially in its former colonies. It is a system that prepares students to compete in the global market. In Qatar, the education system attempts to serve the purpose of preserving the Qatari heritage and respecting the personality of the people. In this paper, the systems of education in England and Qatar shall be compared and contrasted in terms of structure, curriculum, and governance.

With regards to governance, the Qatari system of education is controlled by two main bodies. This includes the supreme education council and the ministry of education. However, the government has been reducing funding to the ministry of education and this has consequently led to the ministry losing a significant control of the education system to the supreme education council. In order to improve the quality of education in the country, the supreme education council has created room for independent schools that are in charge of their own affairs. However, the council is still in control of the education system from the elementary or preschool level to higher education.

In the UK, particularly England, the system of education is decentralized. This means that the major responsibilities for governance of the education system are shared among different agencies and organizations at both national and local level. At the national level, the department of business, innovation and skills and the department of education have the responsibility of providing education services to the entire nation. At the local level, local authorities, voluntary bodies and churches are mandated to be in charge of schools within their jurisdiction.

In terms of structure, the education system in Qatar is structured such that students spend six (6) years at elementary level, three (3) at preparatory level, and three (3) at secondary level before joining universities and other institutions of higher learning. Provision of education is free for all the three first levels of education. It is mandatory for every Qatari child. Being a very small country, the number of schools controlled by the government is obviously few but caters for the population of the country. However, there are other private schools that are controlled by individuals. The structure also includes adult education, special education, scientific secondary school, and language institutions. The scientific schools were started as a way of developing secondary education in the wake of science and technology of the 21st century.

The structure of education system in the UK is such students go through four levels of education. They begin with pre primary education which is for children aged from three months to three years. Here provision of education rests on voluntary organizations, and the private sector. Between three and four years children go through nursery school before entering year 1 at primary level. Primary education is for ages between five years and eleven years. At this level education is compulsory for every child. Parents do not have to pay any money in order to admit their children in public funded schools. These schools are mainly controlled by school governing council and the local authority. Ellwood (2001: 56) says that “ most pupils move from primary to a secondary school at the age of 11”. He further says that at this level, parents are not supposed to pay any fees for admitting their children to public funded schools. The secondary level is for children aged from 11 years to 16 or 18 years before joining institutions of higher education.

Lastly, in terms of the curriculum, the national curriculum in Qatar includes science, mathematics, English, Arabic, Islamic studies and Early Years Education. The supreme education council sets the standards for the curriculum to be observed by all the independent and the public schools. The standards identify the content material that needs to be taught at each level of education. The councils set out these standards based on international benchmarks making it possible for students to compete for jobs and college placement in any university of college in the world.

The national curriculum in UK is made up of 12 subjects. Among these 12 there three core subjects that are mandatory for all students aged 5 to 16. Others are compulsory in different key stages. The core subjects include English, mathematics and science. The other subjects include physical education, music, modern foreign languages, ICT, history, geography, design, citizenship, and art. Other important programs taught include, sex education, religious education and career education. The curriculum stages are divided into six. They include: foundation stage, key stage 1, key stage 2, key stage 3, key stage 4, and A-level or Pre University.

Conclusion

The paper has compared and contrasted education in the UK and Qatar in terms of the curriculum, structure of the education system, and control. From the discussion, both the Qatar and England education systems aim for quality education that prepares students to compete within the global market. Education has been the pillar for development in both countries since the respective governments lay emphasis on education. At the elementary level and primary level of education, it is notable that in both countries, attendance is compulsory and free in government owned schools.

Reference list

Dowty, T. (2000). Free Range Education: How Home Education Works. London:
Hawthorne Press.
Ellwood, P. C. (2001). International education systems. London: Monday books.
Qatar Embassy. (2011). Education. Retrieved 2 22, 2012, from Qatar embassy:
http://www. qatarembassy. net/education. asp
Supreme Education Council. (2012). curriculum standards Office. Doha: Supreme
education council.