With complaints mounting about the shortage of Independent Schools, the Public Works Authority (Ashghal) has said that 41 new school buildings will be handed over to the Supreme Education Council (SEC) by September. The announcement came after recent reports in the local media said that Ashghal may not be able to complete all 40 schools required for the academic year 2008-09. Ashghal had faced criticism from several school operators for delaying construction of new school buildings. In another move to ease the shortage of school buildings, Ashghal said it had been asked by SEC to construct 25 more schools and 20 nurseries, Al Sharq reported yesterday. Ashghal is now involved in construction of schools in various parts of the country. Each school building comprises 25 classrooms, five laboratories, a cafeteria, nine centrally air-conditioned sports halls built as per Olympic standards, three swimming pools, one indoor assembly point, one drawing room, a playground and car parking. The kindergartens are of two types: one contains six classrooms and the other contains 12. The school projects are being implemented by several companies, including the China-based Advanced Engineering Services Company and four local firms: Marbo Contracting Co, Ramco Trading and Contracting Co, Consolidated Contracting Co and International Trading and Contracting Co. The schools under construction are Secondary School for Girls at Al Mamura, Model School at Ain Khalid, Primary School for Girls at Ain Khalid, Primary School for Boys at Ain Khalid, Preparatory School for Girls at Ain Khalid, Secondary School for Boys at Bani Hajer, Primary School for Girls at Al Amir, Model School at Al Khor, Secondary School for Girls at Al Khor, Preparatory School for Girls at Al Khor, Primary School for Girls at Al Khor, two primary schools for girls at Umm Salal, Model School at Sailiyyah, Secondary School for Girls in west Nasiriyah, Preparatory School for Girls in west Nasiriyah, Model School in west Nasiriyah, Primary School for Girls in west Nasiriyah, Model School at Abu Sidra, two primary schools in south Muadher, Secondary School for Boys at New Salata and Model School at Najma. Ashghal's budget for 2008-09 includes several projects for the Ministry of Education and Supreme Education Council. It plans to offer a bid for constructing 20 new school buildings as well as 10 nurseries. The educational projects represent 36 per cent of the total projects being carried out by Ashghal. The Pen

Follow us on our social media channels: @ILQlive @ILQlive @ILoveQtr ILoveQatar