Commercialisation of education flayed

Manama : MP Mohammed Al Maarifi has lashed out at private educational establishments in the Kingdom for their commercial approach rather than focusing on the academic development of the students. Al Maarifi called for fighting against the administrations of private schools that impose unnecessary fees on students.

Speaking to DT News yesterday, Al Maarifi thanked His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa for halting the decision of Education Ministry, which allowed private schools to increase fees by five per cent. Al Maarifi was one of the first to publicly express his objection to the ministry’s decision, as he considered it as “an unwise decision that allows some schools to exploit parents”. “The wise Royal Directives of HM the King came at a crucial time to protect parents from the ever-increasing cost of living and support the development of the educational process in the Kingdom, away from the direct and indirect impacts of inflation,” the MP commented.

Speaking on the necessity to distance education from the circle of achieving commercial gains, Al Maarifi said, “We now live in extraordinary economic circumstances. The decision to increase the fees was unwise and unfair, as parents are bearing the increasing financial burden. The heads of private educational institutions in Bahrain should acknowledge their supportive role to the development of the nation by working hand-to-hand with their counterparts in the public sector.

“Education should be distanced from financial profitability. If education is operated commercially, then we will have a dangerous problem in our community.”

The lawmaker claimed that some private schools and kindergartens are “squeezing” parents for paying additional amounts for “unnecessary activities” such as field trips, school events and other activities that are “not related to the educational process”.       

He also mentioned that “in case the decision was implemented, private schools would have competed in slapping parents with additional financial burdens”.

Proposal withdrawn

In another development, MP Ghazi Al Rahma yesterday said that he has withdrawn the urgent proposal submitted last week to freeze the ministry’s fee hike decision, following the announcement of HM the King’s Royal Directives.

“The wise directives reflect HM the King’s concern about the educational process, his noble message and his pivotal role in building national capacities, values and ideals away from commercial exploitation,” Al Rahma commented in a press statement issued yesterday.

Al Rahma called for the establishment of more standards and strict conditions to ensure that private schools and universities do not become purely commercial enterprises, with the aim of accumulating financial profits without taking into consideration the high humanitarian message of education.

He added, “These schools and universities, although commercial, are primarily national projects which require more effective controls and supervision.”