Ahead of the 2025-26 academic year, Ashghal is taking comprehensive steps to ensure the safety of students and road users, while upgrading educational facilities across Qatar to meet the highest international standards.

The Public Works Authority (Ashghal) has announced the completion of comprehensive school zone safety measures around 669 schools across Qatar, along with the development and upgrading of 53 existing schools, including enhancements to fire protection systems.

“Such plans aim at protecting students and ensuring the safety of road users during school drop-off and pick-up times, along with ensuring the highest standards of safety and security towards enhancing the efficiency of educational facilities. This is done in cooperation with the Ministry of Education and Higher Education,” Ashghal said in a statement.

Ashghal has also announced plans to upgrade 140 schools through a comprehensive programme that includes improving fire safety, modernising classrooms, and enhancing sports and recreational facilities. As part of the plan, seven schools will be fully rebuilt to meet the latest international standards.

Project Engineer Dana Saeed Al-Saiari, from Ashghal’s Building Projects Department, stated that in cooperation with the Ministry of Education and Higher Education, Ashghal has implemented extensive development and improvement works across 53 existing schools.

These works included upgrading fire protection systems to meet the highest international standards, along with advanced technical and operational enhancements aimed at improving building efficiency and the overall quality of the learning environment.

Road safety remains a key focus of Ashghal’s efforts. Abdullah Al Maraghi, Road Safety Engineer, explained that the School Zone Safety Programme has addressed road networks around 673 schools across various areas since its launch in 2013. The initiative is being implemented in coordination with all relevant authorities to ensure safer environments for students and school communities.

Over the past months, Ashghal has undertaken extensive preparations to upgrade road infrastructure and implement safety measures to facilitate traffic flow.

Key improvements include the installation and upgrading of clear traffic signs, maintenance and addition of speed bumps, and the enhancement of pedestrian crossings to alert drivers to slow down near schools.

These measures aim to increase pedestrian visibility, enforce the minimum speed limit of 30 km/h, and regulate traffic flow during peak drop-off and pick-up times.

In addition, road markings such as stop lines and pedestrian crossings are being repainted for maximum clarity. Sidewalks adjacent to schools are being expanded and repaved to accommodate larger numbers of pedestrians, especially during busy hours. Ramps are also being added to improve accessibility for students with disabilities and facilitate safer movement around school areas.