Over 230,000 students set to return to schools in Bahrain

TDT | Manama                                                             

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

More than 230,000 students – 147,000 in public schools and over 84,000 in private ones – will return to schools for the 2022- 2023 academic year. The teaching, academic and technical staff will return to educational institutions today, according to the Ministry of Education’s academic calendar.

Students’ mandatory in-person back-to-school will be on September 7. Dr Mohammed Mubarak bin Ahmed, Director-General of Schools Affairs and Chairman of the Education Undersecretaries’ Committee at the Education Ministry, assured the public that preparations are in full swing for the smooth and safe reopening of classes.

He was speaking during yesterday’s press conference also attended by the Undersecretary for Policies, Strategies and Performance, Nawal Ibrahim Al Khater, to discuss the Education Ministry’s preparations for the new school year.

There are 250 early education institutions, 210 government schools and 79 private ones in Bahrain. As many as 3,176 employees at various educational institutions have been promoted, which confirms the Education Ministry’s interest in ensuring the professional development of its cadres.

Dr Mohammed Mubarak said that 274 graduates from the Bahrain Teachers College have been recruited, and will join their schools today, noting that they will contribute to enriching the educational process in the kingdom.

School activities will feature a variety of extra-curricular events and programmes, including the “Nasser bin Hamad Football Championship for Secondary Schools”, partonised by HM the King’s Representative for Humanitarian Work and Youth Affairs, HH Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, and the Bahrain Schools’ Chess Championship, patronised by the First Deputy Chairman of the Supreme Council for Youth and Sport, General Sports Authority Chairman and Bahrain Olympic President, HH Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa.

Pillar for progress

Dr Mohammed Mubarak said that education is an essential pillar for the progress of societies. He indicated that the provision of an advanced educational system is among the priorities set by the government to achieve His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa’s directives to enrich the educational process and continue to improve its output, as well as those of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, in this regard.

The Schools Affairs Director-General lauded the directives of HM the King and HRH the Crown Prince and Prime Minister to hold an induction day for parents at various schools on September 4-6, and present them with portfolios including the necessary information about the new school year, in addition to a voucher to purchase school stationary and supplies.

Logistical preparations

Al Khater spoke about the Ministry’s logistical preparations. She said that Al Ezdihar Primary Girls School, with a capacity of more than 1,100 students, will be opened for the first time, noting that the Manama Secondary Girls School will be re-opened after the completion of the maintenance work there, while the operational plans of Al Manhal Primary Boys School and the Bilad Al Qadeem Primary Boys Schools will be changed. The Undersecretary also indicated that the comprehensive maintenance work had been carried out in 40 schools, and that 160 government schools had been partially maintained.

Regarding school books, she said that more than two million books had been printed, and that digital copies of school books were made available on the Education Ministry’s website for those wishing to use them. Concerning the transportation services, Al Khater stated that more 700 school buses are ready to transport more 41,000 students all over the kingdom for free, adding that the Ministry has prepared special buses to transport students with special needs and those with Down syndrome.

The Education Ministry is coordinating with 18 specialised companies to clean schools, and had developed the services of the Educational Portal and other digital services. Al Khater also highlighted the Education Ministry’s keenness to develop early education to improve its quality and outcomes.