Image used for representation.
Doha: Admissions to Indian schools in Qatar is a tough task for parents as seats in affordable schools are limited. Making it tougher this year was a directive being shared on social media about age limit being lowered by the Ministry of Education and Higher Education.
The circular showed that the maximum age to join KG1 is revised to 3 years, 11 months and 29 days as of September 30. This was 4 years, 11 months and 29 days last year.
Indian schools also have a minimum age limit of 3 years by March 30 of the year of admission. They start the admission process much earlier than schools of other streams.
A senior official of an Indian School clarified that the ministry officials had shared a directive on lowering the age but the schools authorities approached the ministry requesting an exemption from this change rule for this year as the admissions process are over across the country.
"The ministry issues directive considering the academic year for Qatari schools and IB schools, which starts their session in September. While new academic session for Indian schools starts in April and we have finished the whole process. So this year there will not be any change in the age limit," he said.
Indian schools have approached the ministry officials requesting them to announce admission related directives much in advance so that it becomes easier for Indian schools and parents to take the necessary action.
Meanwhile, when queried if the new age limit would be implemented next year, the official said that there is no confirmation about it being implemented next academic year. He said that schools are in touch with ministry officials appraising them about the academic calendar and other issues like vacation schedule and they are expecting a favourable decision from the concerned officials.
According to media reports and some other school officials, the directive will come into effect in most other schools except Indian Schools from this year onwards and it will be implemented next year in Indian schools.
This will affect students whose parents have decided to skip a year, which is a common practice, before admitting the kids in KG1 as they felt the kid will be more mature and able to handle the studies. If the rule is implemented such parents will have to seek admission in KG2.
