Paper Title
The Status of The Licensing System of Teachers and School Leaders in the State of Qatar

Abstract
In 2001, Qatar embarked on ambitious reform initiatives recognizing the need for a strong educational system to prepare young Qataris for increasingly demanding careers and for playing leading roles in the future development of their own society. Nine years later, Qatar�s educational landscape has significantly changed. Among these changes is the introduction of professional standards for teacher and school leaders and Qatar�s first system for the registration and licensing of teachers and school leaders that are directly linked to the professional standards. However, despite substantial national investment in the licensing system of teachers and school leaders, mixed opinions about the adequacy/applicability of the licensing system remain.Therefore, the purpose of the study under investigation is to document the status of the licensing system of teachers and school leaders in the State of Qatar. It is clear that a close inspection of any policy or practice is vital in order to improve effectiveness and success. It is our view that without this critical inspection educational programs or policies are more likely to fail and bring about unintended consequences hampering the overall reform.