ABSTRACT
Many countries believe that to compete in the global economy and allow their citizens to take full advantage of advances in technology, a high quality school system is essential. Qatar, a small Islamic and Arab nation, rich in natural resources but with relatively few citizens, is one of these nations. Although the country has a well-developed system of government-provided education for both boys and girls, few of its citizens end up in positions that benefit the economy. The Qatari leadership seeks an upgrade in educational quality consistent with economic, social, and political changes underway in the country. To this end, RAND, a U.S.-based nonprofit think tank, was asked to examine the entire system of schooling at the pre-college level. A research team collected and analyzed information about the system to identify its chief strengths and weaknesses.
