Government schools gear up for new academic year starting on Wednesday

TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune - www.newsofbahrain.com

Email: editor@newsofbahrain.com

The countdown to the new academic year in Bahrain is officially on, with administrative and teaching staff at government schools across all three educational stages returning to work today.

The new academic year is set to begin on Wednesday. Starting tomorrow, schools will be hosting orientation sessions and welcoming parents to provide them with essential information about the upcoming year, familiarise them with school systems and regulations, and distribute student profile folders.

These folders contain valuable information, important details, purchase vouchers, and special offers designed to help parents meet their children’s school supply needs.

The weekend before the school year starts is witnessing a surge in activity at shopping malls and markets as parents finalise their back-to-school shopping. Retailers are vying for customers with discounts ranging from 25% to 50%, along with promotional offers and lucky draws.

Necessary items

Shop owners and merchants selling school supplies and clothing confirmed that all necessary items are readily available and that there are no import or shipping obstacles due to regional circumstances.

They did acknowledge a slight increase in some prices due to higher shipping costs. The Operations Manager at the Day Today Shopping Centre confirmed that the centre is fully prepared for the back-to-school season, stressing that this year will be bigger and better.

With the opening of a new branch, the centre has stocked up on a wide variety of school supplies, bags, and stationery. While acknowledging the general rise in shipping costs, the manager assured customers that his centre is committed to keeping prices affordable.

Clothing retailers

Meanwhile, clothing retailers are also actively promoting public school uniforms.

The price for a complete school uniform is around B20 for boys and BD22 for girls in most stores, with some offering lower prices. Some retailers are capitalising on the delay in tailoring and dressmaking services by offering to deliver uniforms within two weeks, aiming to attract more customers.

The bustling shopping activity has resulted in noticeable traffic congestion in various areas across Bahrain, particularly around shopping malls and major markets.