Bright Future International School (BFIS) is one of the leading and distinguished educational institutions in Qatar, serving Pakistani and other communities for the last 28 years.
BFIS follows its vision of providing accessible, affordable, and progressive learning environment that nurtures passion for learning, desire for advancement, and a sense of responsibility towards society.
Established in 1996, the school holds a reputation for quality learning and extraordinary academic results of its students. Located in Mesaimeer area, the institute offers an exceptional academic environment for students at the Kindergarten, Primary, Secondary and Higher Secondary levels.
BFIS takes pride in being the first school offering British Curriculum through Pearson (Edexcel) UK and Federal Board, Pakistan, simultaneously. The school has an impressive strength of around 1,800 students currently enrolled in both Pakistani and British streams of studies. A series of Outstanding Students’ Achievement Awards at IGCSE and A-Levels by Pearson UK over the past years confirms the school’s commitment to quality education and transform its students into self-motivated learners and responsible citizens of society.
The Ministry of Education and Higher Education, Qatar recently acknowledged the academic achievements of BFIS in their inaugural award ceremony.
With its spacious and purpose-built campus, classes equipped with modern smart boards, science and computer labs updated with latest technology and tools, modern library, excellent bus service, and highly qualified and experienced faculty, BFIS always remains the first choice for the parents to enroll their children. The school maintains the highest percentage of successful candidates from Pearson UK for IGCSE and A-Levels, majority of whom secure scholarships in prestigious universities and professionals colleges in Qatar, Pakistan, Egypt and other countries. The school has recently developed a state-of-the-art sports arena that offers sporting facilities of international standards. The sports arena holds football field, paddle, basketball, table tennis, badminton and volley ball courts along with exciting swing areas for younger students. A dedicated indoor sports gymnasium and sports facilities allow students to excel in sporting and other co-curricular activities.
Ali Zulqarnain, who has a rich teaching and administrative experience spanning more than 27 years, took charge of the institution as its principal on June 6, 2021. He is a seasoned educationist who has served BFIS in different capacities for the last 24 years. His career is a perfect example of career progression as he evolved from an English teacher to Academic Coordinator, then Vice Principal and then the Principal BFIS. He holds a Master’s degree in English degree from the University of Punjab, Lahore and Masters in Business Administration from Philippine School of Business Administration, Manila. He has completed his educational diplomas for IGCSE & A-Levels from Cambridge University, UK.
Before joining BFIS, Zulqarnain served at prestigious institutions like FG Post Degree College Wah Cantt, HIT Degree College Taxila Cantt, and College Business Administration, Islamabad. He has also been working as Academic Consultant for Air Foundation School System, Islamabad. Zulqarnain has been a master trainer for professional development of academic and administrative staff to improve their pedagogical and administrative skills. He actively participates in community services, particularly dedicating his effort and time for the betterment of the Pakistani community in Qatar.
Along with his professional commitment, he is always involved in volunteering and especially sporting activities. Besides playing cricket at First Class level, he has done coaching and umpiring courses from Asian Cricket Council and International Cricket Council. Another salient feature of his career is long experience of doping control assignment. Zulqarnain is a trained and certified Doping Control Officer, who has been conducting doping tests since 2005 in local and international competitions. He participated in Commonwealth Games (Melbourne-2005), Asian Games (Doha-2006), AFC Asian Cup (Doha-2011/2023), FIFA World Cup (Doha-2022), and numerous World Championships for athletics, swimming, cycling, etc.
In an interview with Qatar Tribune, Zulqarnain shared his insights into education in Qatar and his vision to develop BFIS further to new heights.
What are the developmental plans in pipeline to upgrade the existing facilities of the institution?
We have recently updated our curriculum in line with international standards and introduced iPrimary and iLower Secondary set of courses, along with check point examinations at Year 6 and Year 9. In addition to this, we are updating IT infrastructure, enhancing safety and security of students, installing latest CCTV cameras in a central monitoring room, and introducing modern teaching aids in the classes. We have devised comprehensive plans to integrate different activities in classroom teaching to promote Qatar’s national identity and culture. Extensive professional development programme for the teaching staff have also been also chalked out to augment their planning and delivery of curriculum, but our focus will remain on achieving quality benchmarks for better academic results and personality grooming of the students.
What are the major issues facing the BFIS?
By the grace of Almighty, the guidance of Ministry of Education and support of BFIS Chairman, the school has overcome the challenges that hindered our progress in the past. At current, we find it perplexing to accommodate the applicants on waiting list for admission. Due to the capacity constraints, we find it hard to accept a large number of aspiring students, who want to benefit from the quality education being offered at BFIS. Along with this, rising operational costs also pose a challenge as we aim not to shift the burden of rising inflation on the parents. Therefore, without making any compromise on educational standards, we need to cut costs to meet operational expenses.
How did you find the interaction of parents with the school authorities?
At BFIS, we strongly believe that parents play a pivotal role in refining the functioning of the school. They are our eyes and ears, and their valuable feedback always provide us an opportunity to improve. We have interactive digital portal where parents can communicate directly to any of the teachers and convey their suggestions and concerns. Our parents’ council also meets at regular intervals to evaluate the progress of school programmes and guide us further towards achieving excellence.
BFIS students have always produced excellent results in the examinations. What are your plans to achieve even better results in future?
BFIS is proud of the academic yield that its students bring for us. We have been bagging a long list of outstanding Students Achievement awards by Pearson, UK for IGCSE and A-Levels. Our shining students have secured World’s Best and Middle East’s Best results in different subjects for the last three consecutive years. The school has developed extensive plans to accomplish even better results in the next academic sessions. In this regard, we have modified our internal examination system and introduced a digital paper marking system which produces quality exam papers without any human interference. We offer after-school and additional support classes on Saturdays without charging any fee. We have introduced Quality Assurance Programme for academic monitoring and delivery of the teachers. We have also launched objectives programme where individual targets are set for every student and teacher. Special attention and resources have been dedicated to improving the pedagogical skills of teachers, which would definitely produce a better yield.
Do you think co-curricular and curricular activities are important for proper upbringing and grooming of a child?
While curricular activities focus on academic subjects, co-curricular activities provide a well-rounded education by nurturing talents and interests outside the classroom, making learning more engaging and meaningful. Participation in these activities fosters qualities like empathy, social responsibility, resilience, and ethical decision-making, shaping children into responsible citizens. We have introduced a wide range of activities to cater to different interests and talents, including sports, arts, music, drama, debate, science clubs, scouts and guides, and many more. We are involving parents, alumni, and community members in supporting and enriching co-curricular activities through volunteering, mentorship, or resource sharing.
What message would you like to give to students and their parents?
Every student brings unique talents, strengths, and dreams. They should remember that their potential is limitless, and with dedication, hard work, and resilience, they can achieve anything. They should embrace every opportunity that comes their way, both inside and outside the classroom, explore their passions and challenge themselves to grow. I thank all parents for entrusting us with the privilege of educating and nurturing their children. Their support and involvement are invaluable in creating a thriving school community where every child can flourish. Together, let us continue to inspire and empower our students to become lifelong learners, compassionate leaders, and positive contributors to society.