Qatar’s Public Works Authority Ashghal has awarded contracts worth more than QR1.25 billion ($343 million) for the construction of 17 new schools and six kindergartens in a bid to boost the country’s educational infrastructure.

Work is already under way on 38 schools and kindergartens at a cost of QR1.73 billion ($474 million) and with these new contracts, the number of schools and kindergartens being built by Ashghal has now risen to 69, said the authority.

Of this, 33 schools and kindergartens will be delivered to the Supreme Education Council (SEC) before the beginning of the 2015-2016 school year. With the new contracts, the total value of the educational projects carried out by Ashghal is estimated at QR3 billion ($823 million), president Nasser bin Ali Al Mawlawi said.

 Al Mawlawi said each of the 17 schools will have a total construction area of 9,159 sq m and will comprise a two-storey building that can accommodate around 650 students in 25 classes.

The work on all these projects will start in the first quarter of 2015 and is due for completion by the third quarter of next year. These schools will boast eco-friendly and smart buildings.