DOHA: A law passed yesterday makes it mandatory for all private education institutions offering courses like those in computer science and languages to be licensed by the Supreme Education Council (SEC).
A department at the SEC in charge of such institutions will provide the licence provided the applicants fulfill the criteria and pay a deposit as guarantee.
Existing education institutions offering the courses must adjust to comply with the new law within six months after it comes into force.
The Minister of Education and Higher Education, though, has the authority to extend this period by another six months or longer.
Law Number 8 of 2015 regulating the practice of private education institutions was passed by Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, reports Qatar News Agency (QNA).
The legislation is to be published in the official gazette to be effective.
It covers all private education institutions in the country that provide training of all kinds and courses in computer education, language skills, secretarial services, accountancy and business studies, among others.
Other courses that could be offered by such centres are to be specified by the Minister of Education and Higher Education vide a decision.
The law will not apply to government entities providing education services and non-government bodies providing training to employees.
New centres being set up to provide the courses will be required to apply to the department concerned at the SEC for licensing after making sure they fulfill the criteria.
The duration of validity of licence is also to be specified by the Minister of Education and Higher Education vide a ministerial decision, says the law.
Persons in-charge of companies or entities applying for such licensing must at least be 21 years of age with no criminal record.
Such persons or entities or shareholders of entities shall not have any direct or indirect link to the SEC to be eligible for licensing. Entities having tie-ups with foreign colleges and universities could do so only after getting due approval for such tie-ups from the SEC.
All staff of a licensed education centre could be hired only after being approved by SEC’s department concerned. They must be aged at least 18, have minimum qualifications and possess good character.
A building will not be allowed to have more than one such centre and the headquarters of a centre could not be altered without official approval, says the law.
The deposit furnished by a licensee is to be forfeited in part or full if provisions of the law or ministerial decision are violated.
The licence will be withdrawn if services are not provided even a year after licence has been issued to an entity. For minor violations, a licence could be suspended for a month.
Serious violations or operating a centre without licence could land the owner in jail for up to six months with a fine of up to QR100,000 or either.
Publicising such a centre in the local media cannot be done without approval from the SEC. Violations shall be punishable with fines up to QR100,000.
The court will have the right to order closure of a centre for violation and force it to return the fees collected from people, says the law. Once effective, the new law will make Law No. 6 of 2000 null and void.THE PENINSULA
