Bahraini Government Rejects Urgent Curriculum Reform Bill

TDT | Manama                                                      

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

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The government has rejected an urgent bill proposed by MP Abdulla Al Rumaihi and four other MPs aimed at reforming the country's school curriculum. The proposal cited concerns about the recent curriculum changes implemented by the Ministry of Education, arguing they are overly theoretical and difficult for teachers and students to understand, leading to a decline in academic achievement.

The MPs advocated for a fundamental overhaul of science curricula to align with the ease of modern information access, emphasising that the goal is not simplification, but rather a more effective and relevant curriculum.

The government, however, countered that the curriculum undergoes regular review and evaluation. It highlighted the development and implementation of operational plans for all curricula across different educational stages, updated according to international standards to meet student needs and the demands of the Bahraini job market.

The government stressed that curriculum development is a meticulous process based on pedagogical principles, guidelines, and specialised scientific research, taking into account Bahraini societal characteristics and the cognitive, social, economic, and political needs of its citizens. The government also emphasised the alignment of the curriculum with Bahrain's Economic Vision 2030.

The government further explained that the national curriculum framework provides the theoretical foundation for any curriculum development, incorporating educational objectives, characteristics, and components, as well as the rationale and goals of curriculum development and contemporary pedagogical approaches.

"This framework guides the derivation of educational objectives, competencies, and the structure of curriculum content, linking them to factors influencing their acquisition and development among learners," the government stressed.

The government emphasised that curriculum development must be a careful and considered process, taking into account local, regional, and global developments.

"This includes reviewing and updating competencies and topics, incorporating future skills and digital literacy, and utilising artificial intelligence technologies,"
the government's response underscored.

The government also pointed to ongoing research initiatives, such as studies on environmental education, economic education, and artificial intelligence, as well as the integration of critical thinking and entrepreneurship skills into the curriculum, including a new course on small projects and entrepreneurship, and the empowerment of digital learning through communication and technology.