The government of Qatar has identified education as key to meeting the targets outlined in both the National Development Strategy 2011-16 and the Qatar National Vision 2030. Government expenditures in 2014 emphasized education, which accounted for over 7% of the national budget. Private sector actors are also playing an increasingly important role in providing education services.
The government has outlined a clear vision of leveraging these vast resources to diversify the economy away from oil and gas revenues. Qatar’s National Vision 2030 (QNV 2030) and the National Development Strategy 2011-16 outline the country’s long-term social and economic goals and identify education as a critical vehicle for meeting these targets. The government has invested in reforming the sector and in developing new education initiatives, programmes and projects over the past two decades. Government expenditures in 2014, for example, emphasised education, which accounted for over 7% of the national budget. Private sector actors are also playing an increasingly important role in providing education services, particularly at the primary and secondary level. The presence of a large expatriate workforce has given rise to demand for different curricula and syllabi. The size of the market for private schools and other education facilities is likely to continue growing as the population expands.