Qatar Office for Licencing of Teachers and School Leaders (QORLA)

1. Qatar Office for Licencing of Teachers and School Leaders (QORLA) Presentation to the International Congress of School Effectiveness and Improvement (ICSEI) January 2009

2. Qatar

3. Qatar’s Leadership

4. Qatar education reformUnderlying principles Choice Variety Accountability Independence

5. Supreme Education Council (SEC)

6. Major undertakings Reducing the number of Ministry of Education Schools Establishing and increasing the number of Independent Schools Comprehensive data-based monitoring and evaluation system World class curriculum standards Professional standards for teachers and leaders

7. Professional Standards Expectation To improve the quality of teaching and school leadership which will contribute to enhanced student achievement outcomes in Qatar Priorities for improving teaching and school leadership quality are to introduce: • National Professional Standards for Teachers and School Leaders (NPST/SL) – Education Institute • Licencing for Teachers and School Leaders against the National Professional Standards – Evaluation Institute (QORLA)

8. QORLA Goals 2008-2009

9. QORLA Goals 2008-2009

10. School Reform ApproachesLearning Networks Schools in a network can achieve more - in terms of building capacity and student achievement - than if they work alone

11. Learning Networks Application to QORLA QORLA expectations: • the establishment of learning networks within and between the Evaluation Institute, schools, and the wider Qatar education community will achieve more than the QORLA can achieve independently • QORLA will need a series of interdependent relationships/networks to achieve the SEC expectations

12. Discussion Learning Networks have proven to be effective within and between schools: • How can Learning Network theory be applied to country wide reform efforts – policy, research and practice? • What are the strengths, weaknesses and gaps in Learning Network application in respect of country wide reform initiatives?

13. Initiating Learning Networks QORLA Understandings • Significant numbers of countries with high student achievement have well developed and articulated standards for teacher training and performance • The Supreme Education Council Qatar reform is being led by three organisations - the Higher Education Institute, the Education Institute and the Evaluation Institute • Qatar Independent schools are self managing within the wider education sector and within the community

14. QORLA Networks A Definition An association of two or more organisations who agree to share responsibility for achieving one or more of the specific goals associated with teacher and school leader licencing.

15. QORLA NetworksGoals • Support QORLA to move Qatar teachers and school leaders through the stages of change associated with licencing • Support QORLA to initiate processes for accrediting professional learning programmes and qualifications which will enhance teacher and school leader supply and quality • Deepen own learning and understanding about successful networking and interdependency • Deepen learning and understanding about the impact of licencing on teacher and school leader quality and student outcomes

16. QORLA Networks ‘Who’ Education Institute Australia Higher Education Institute Cognition Consulting Limited (New Zealand) Evaluation Institute (Qatar) England Canada Education Sector United States of America Schools Community

17. Networking Tools Management Governance Memorandum of Understanding (Institutes) Terms of Reference (Advisory Panels and Transition Board) QORLA Contracts – Delivery and Accountability (Supreme Education Council and Cognition Consulting Limited Operations Operations Operations Licences (Teachers and School Leaders) Guidelines (School Attestation Committees) Accreditation (Professional Learning Programmes)

18. QORLANetworking Characteristics . Evaluation, Research Reflection, Monitoring Sharing Learning Building Capacity, Collaborative learning Leadership, Roles and Responsibilities, Structure Common Purpose Communication, Openness, mutual trust, respect, support, Inclusive

19. DISCUSSION

20. QORLAAchievements April - December 2008 . Business Plan completed Office Established Team appointed E-Portfolio Guidelines promulgated Attestation Overview drafted Monitoring and Evaluation commenced Provisional Licences issued to 85 Operator/Principals Provisional Licence applications received from 800 teachers and 650 school leaders

21. QORLAInitial Evaluation Findings Teachers, School Leaders, Institute, QORLA and wider education sector representatives: • are supportive of licencing • see a need for licencing to occur to raise the achievement of students • agree with the processes that have been implemented • are concerned over the lack of implementation detail • want more information and detail • expressed some concern over the speed of change within Qatar, not just surrounding the QORLA work

22. Discussion • What should QORLA consider in the next phase of planning and implementation? • What learning's are there in Qatar that may assist the ICSEI wider network to support and influence international and country wide reform efforts?