Education ministry bans exclusive school supply sales, eases burden on parents

TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune - www.newsofbahrain.com

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In a move set to relieve parents across the Kingdom, schools have been officially banned from forcing families to purchase textbooks, revision guides, and other study materials from specific shops or stationery outlets.

The Education Ministry, in a bold new circular, also warned schools against selling these materials directly to students, cracking down on practices that have long frustrated parents.

Instead, teachers who create their own revision guides are now required to print and distribute them at no cost or simply provide a downloadable link for parents to print at home — entirely at their discretion.

Crucially, these booklets will remain optional, and the Ministry clarified that they will not influence student grades.

"While these resources are helpful for daily revision, they should not be mandatory and must not impact student assessments, which will continue to follow the official curriculum,” the circular emphasized.

In a further warning, the Ministry revealed that some unauthorized shops have been producing and selling school materials without permission.

It promised swift legal action against offenders, urging parents to steer clear of these materials. Parents are also encouraged to report any schools violating these rules, with a dedicated whistleblowing email established at Whistleblowing@ moe.gov.bh.

The Ministry urged parents to include the name of the school and relevant staff involved in such incidents.

This latest action is seen as a step toward levelling the playing field for parents and easing the financial burden often associated with the back-to-school season.