Call to cut ‘closure period’ school fees by 65 per cent

TDT | Manama

A proposal has been made by a lawmaker stating that private schools and kindergartens should decrease their fees by 65 per cent during the closure period in light of Coronavirus threat. Adel Al Asoomi said that schools should bear the brunt instead of passing on the pressure to parents.

“This is an exceptional situation and everyone is going through a hard time. “Private schools and kindergartens should understand this and take 35 per cent of the total financial dues in order to cover operating costs only without profit during this period.” In his proposal, Mr Al Asoomi emphasised the importance of community partnership in such exceptional circumstances.

He said, “Schools are closed at this time and this would result in decreased operating expenses, so there is no need to take the same amount in fees.” “We are at an exceptional stage, and everyone must co-operate in it and overcome this adversity with minimal damage.”

Tribune reported recently that, following the directives of the Government Executive Committee, chaired by His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Prime Minister, the Ministry of Education has announced that educational and administrative bodies within public and private schools, higher educational institutions, and kindergartens were initially planned to resume work on Sunday 08 March 2020.

The ministry later announced, in line with the directives, that student attendance at all public and private educational institutions, which includes all public and private schools, higher educational institutions, and kindergartens will be suspended for an additional two weeks, until the 29th of March 2020.

The Council of Representatives earlier rejected an urgent proposal to suspend the second semester for the ongoing academic year 2019-2020. This came during the regular weekly meeting of the Council, where 18 of the 34 attending MPs voted against the proposal.

Originally presented by MPs Ahmed Al Salloom, Hamad Al Kooheji and Zainab Abdulameer, the proposal stipulates the suspension of classes until the end the semester for all school stages except the 12th grade, in a bid to prevent the spread of the coronavirus Covid-19 in schools.

The three MPs suggested only approving the results of the first semester in order for the students to pass the year. They said the proposal comes “due to considerations of public interest and the sensitive situation Bahrain is going through at the present time”.

They also mentioned in their proposal: “The proposal comes due to the lack of a basic environment that contributes to the success of distance learning, as it needs a solid infrastructure, in terms of the availability of computers and a high speed to connect to the Internet, making the application of this method very costly and difficult for everyone.”

During yesterday’s discussion, MP Al Kooheji stated: “It’s true that education is important, but, health is more important. We are compelled to present this urgent proposal to save the lives of our children; the students.”

Defending the proposal, he added: “Parents are very unpleased about this matter. They are afraid because of the carelessness from the part of some people, especially after we recently heard how a doctor was advised to quarantine himself at home, but instead he practiced his work and legal procedures were taken against him.”

For her part, MP Abdulameer said: “The electronic portal of the ministry is highly pressurised and it can’t be easily accessed. It’s flooded with schedules that are filled with activities, videos and electronic quizzes.” “Parents are today experiencing high pressure. Is it possible that we spend our entire day surfing the portal,” Ms Abdulameer questioned. Another supporting voice was MP Mohammed Al Abbasi, who called upon his fellow lawmakers to pass the proposal considering the safety of students and teachers.

Mr Al Abbasi commented: “We need to activate future schools and distant learning. The state have been spending millions of dinars for around 15 years, so we would be prepared in such situations that we are experiencing today. “What is happening now is that homework is being merely uploaded to the website and students download it, while poor parents are the actual ones teaching at home.”