Education Ministry denies allegations by lawmakers

Manama: The Education Ministry yesterday denied the allegations made by a few MPs that an elementary school in Muharraq Governorate had no sufficient number of teachers to resume classes.

Following the allegations, Education Affairs and Curricula Undersecretary Dr. Abdulla Al Mottawa, Public and Technical Education Assistant Undersecretary Latifa Al Bonoutha and Elementary Education Director Fatima Al Buainain visited Ruqaya Elementary Girls’ School in Galali yesterday.

In a press statement issued after the visit, the Ministry said that the academic process was smoothly going on at the school and the officials had met a number of parents.

“The officials briefed them about the Ministry’s efforts to develop the educational process in schools,” it added.

A number of MPs had raised the issue of the school during the Parliament weekly meetings for two consecutive weeks. The MPs passed an urgent proposal on Tuesday to appoint Bahraini teachers in the school as they claimed there was a severe shortage of teachers. The proposal was postponed during the last week’s meeting owing to lack of consensus among a number of MPs on the issue. MP Mohammed Al Jowder, who represents the area, claimed that no Bahraini teachers were available to teach first, second and third graders at the school.

“These are the fundamental years in education. If enough teachers are not provided, the students’ grades will be definitely affected. This may lead to several other problems, such as students’ culture, Bahraini accent and would push parents to seek assistance from private tuitions,” Al Jowder added.