e-learning success for visually impaired students in Bahrain

TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Bahrain has succeeded in providing distance education to visually-impaired students in public schools and the Saudi Bahraini Institute for the Blind, under the direct supervision of the Ministry of Education, in another achievement for the sustainability of education for all during the pandemic.

The Saudi Bahraini Institute for the Blind was keen to keep pace with the basic changes that have occurred in education in the current exceptional circumstances by taking all necessary measures to implement distance learning for its students at all academic levels and ensure they are not left behind academically.

Measures include open communication and coordination with the Ministry of Education and HM King Hamad's Project for Future Schools, to facilitate the activation and use of digital learning tools, especially the educational portal and virtual classrooms.

Microsoft Office 365 accounts and accounts of the educational portal for the 41 blind students were created and activated. Four of the students attend Saudi Bahrain Institute for the Blind and the other 37 are integrated into government schools.

Parents were contacted and informed of the methods applied for distance learning, mainly the online classes, the educational portal with its lessons, activities and discussion sessions, the visual lessons provided through a TV channel, and the YouTube channels.

Students were provided with textbooks and CDs of the electronic books that are compatible with the programs. Elementary school students were provided with bags to learn and play remotely that can be used in the virtual classes of art education and physical education.