- State of Qatar selects CTB/McGraw-Hill to deliver education testing services as the nation increases its focus on educational and economic development

DOHA, Qatar, May 22, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- CTB/McGraw-Hill (CTB), a leading assessment partner for educational authorities worldwide, today announced the opening of a new office location in Doha, Qatar following its nearly decade-long role with education development in the country. The office will allow CTB to expand its growing business in Qatar, consistent with growth in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region. The announcement follows CTB's recent selection by the State of Qatar to deliver education testing services to more than 50,000 students in the country over the next two years through the administration of the Qatar Comprehensive Education Assessment (QCEA) and the Qatar Senior Schooling Certificate (QSSC).

CTB has worked with the state of Qatar since 2004, when it was awarded a contract to develop mathematics and science tests for use in Qatar's elementary, preparatory and secondary schools. Today, CTB serves students and educators in over 40 countries worldwide.

The QCEA program provides an important measure of performance for students in grades 4–11 in Arabic, English, mathematics, science, Islamic studies and social sciences. Together with Qatar's Supreme Education Council, CTB is responsible for designing and implementing the assessment program for all six content areas using validated psychometric tools to produce reliable and meaningful results for students and educators. The QSSC program measures the performance of students in 12th grade for Qatar Independent Schools in mathematics, English, Arabic, Islamic studies, social studies, biology, chemistry and physics.

"Qatar is a leader of educational and economic development in the world, and we are excited to help the nation as it builds a knowledge-based society and pursues its National Vision 2030," said Sandor Nagy, chief operating officer of CTB/McGraw-Hill. "We've had the privilege of working with Qatar for nearly a decade, and we are honored to be able to continue that tradition and now put down roots in this growing and strategically important nation."

Qatar – which has seen double-digit average annual economic growth over the past three years, one of the highest in the world – is delivering on its National Vision 2030 to advance its society through economic, social, human and environmental development and diversify its economy and labor force beyond the oil and gas market. As part of this vision, Qatar aims to build a modern, world-class educational system that offers students a first-rate education with an emphasis on critical thinking and one that provides teachers with high-quality, comprehensive forms of assessment and accountability.

CTB's new office in Doha will be the company's first location in the GCC region. It will support the company's current work on the QCEA and QSSC programs, and it will enable future growth in Qatar and beyond.

About CTB/McGraw-Hill
CTB/McGraw-Hill has an 85-year record of innovation and excellence in assessment, and serves more than 18 million students in all 50 states and in over 40 countries. One of the first American publishers to introduce objective, standardized achievement tests to schools, today CTB/McGraw-Hill is a leader in testing with recognized products for online interim and formative, adult, and language proficiency assessment. Dedicated to advancing the use of student performance data to inform instructional decision making, CTB/McGraw-Hill's innovation continues today with advanced technologies that include online assessment and reporting, state-of-the-art content, and artificial intelligence engines for scoring of student essays. CTB/McGraw-Hill is part of McGraw-Hill Education, a leading global provider of instructional, assessment and reference solutions that empower professionals and students of all ages. For more information, visit CTB.com/AboutUs.

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SOURCE CTB/McGraw-Hill