With Qatar putting emphasis on quality school education, and the job market in the West squeezed by recession, the country is emerging as an attractive destination for qualified international school teachers. More than 100 international teachers will be flying in to Doha over the next two days to stand the test of more than 10 select international schools in Qatar. Candidates from different parts of the world, including the US, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Dubai, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Syria and Jordan will be attending the two-day international recruitment fair hosted by the UK-based Globalinks Tutors LTD at Doha Marriot Hotel from today. “More and more people are interested in coming to Doha and the demand is really going up. Due to Qatar’s ongoing expansion projects in the hydrocarbon sector and its added emphasis on the education sector, a large number of professionals from the western countries are coming to Doha, increasing the demand for more quality schools in the country, Andrew Spinks, Managing Director of Globalinks Tutors, told The Peninsula yesterday. Spinks, who has been in the business of international teacher recruitment for the last three decades, said this is the first time an international teachers’ recruitment agency is holding a recruitment fair in Doha. “And the response is really amazing”, he said. “As you know, the biggest challenge facing schools today is that of teacher recruitment and staff retention. For teachers, it is the problem of accessing high-quality vacancies form reputable employers. We provide an essential link between schools, teachers, tutors and students, from all over the world”. More than 10 international schools in Doha will meet the teachers at the two-day fair and the handpicked ones will have an opportunity to take a tour of their favourite schools. The global financial crisis has had an impact on the education sector in the West. Many schools in the UK have made major cuts in their annual budget. Also, there is a trend in British schools to hire younger teachers. The better packages offered by Qatar are luring the more experienced teachers to come here. Globalinks Tutors now represents more than 300 international schools from all over the world. It has offices in UK and USA. Of late, a series of international schools have opened in Qatar. The Outstanding Schools Oversight Committee (OSOC) of the Supreme Education Council (SEC) has held discussions with three international schools, including the famed Sherborne School (UK), Shady Side Academy (USA), and the Dubai American Academy ahead of their opening their branch campuses in Doha in the next academic year. The OSOC has plans to open two to three private international schools each year over the coming three to five years. http://thepeninsulaqatar.com/Display_news.asp?section=Local_News&subsection=Qatar+News&month=April2009&file=Local_News2009041152655.xml

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