Bahrain introduces new school timings, all set to welcome 150,000 students
TDT | Manama
The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com
Report by Julia Cassano and Tofoof AlMansoor
Bahrain's Education Minister, Dr. Mohammed Mubarak Juma, reaffirmed yesterday the preparations taken to welcome back students for the new school year to ensure the ministry’s commitment to increase efficiency and sufficiency in the education sector.
A crucial decision, the minister said, includes children born between the months of September and December 2017 being allowed to enrol in the 1st grade instead of being delayed a year.
Benefiting 5,000 children, the new policy has helped ease many concerns and has gained positive public reaction all over social media, the minister emphasised.
Since opening registrations and ensuring all students are given the opportunity to enrol, the ministry has received 15,000 applications, with an expected number of 150,000 students this year.
New School Timings
Serving the ministry’s objective of providing pupils with a school-life balance, the minister also announced new school timings, with elementary pupils leaving at 12:30 pm, middle school at 1:15 pm, and high school at 1:45 pm.
"The Ministry has kept in mind that students would reach home by 3 pm due to traffic and multiple stops, hence why we have changed the timings," said Dr. Juma.
IELTS, TOEFL, reading sessions and more
After analysing the gap in students English proficiency, schools will now introduce the International English Language Testing System Exam (IELTS), an international standardised test of English language proficiency for non-native English language speakers, and the Test of English as a Foreign Language Exam (TOEFL), another test to measure the English language ability of non-native speakers wishing to enrol in English-speaking universities, to students in grades 10–12 and will be prepped for two months, said Dr. Juma.
Further, students in grades 1–9 will have weekly reading sessions. Students in 1st–3rd grade will have Quran recitation classes, with the aim being to improve the children’s Arabic language and enrich their faith.
During the conference, the ministry also announced that the Mariam bint Omran Primary School for Girls, one of the oldest schools in Bahrain operating since 1948, has reopened its doors again for the new school year with new and improved renovations, keeping its historical value.
It is equipped for 382 students and consists of three buildings.
Further, the ministry has expanded schools such as Budaiya Primary Intermediate Girls School and Busaiteen Primary School by opening another building for each school, increasing the number of students fitting in each school, and equipping the buildings with the latest labs and educational facilities.
Budaiya Primary Intermediate Girls School fits 330 students, while Busaiteen Elementary School fits 540 students.
"The goal is to raise the quality of the educational process and to help reduce pressure on neighbouring schools by reducing overload," Dr. Juma said.
Maintenance and logistics
As part of the initiative to increase standards in the education sector, the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Works have collaborated to ensure adequate maintenance is completed on school buildings.
"More than 700 up-to-date buses are provided for over 44,000 students and include more than 1,400 bus stops, which will all be properly maintained. Special buses will also be provided for handicapped pupils," said Dr. Juma.
Furthermore, the Education Ministry has cooperated with the General Directorate of Traffic on conducting a training programme for all bus drivers in order to safeguard the safety of children.
In highlighting the ministry’s efforts to uphold the highest standards for education, the ministry has increased cleaning staff in all schools.
"This includes both deep and general cleaning, and the process of deep cleaning began on the 15th of August and is still occurring today," he stated.
The Education Ministry Undersecretary, Nawal Ebrahim Alkhater, noted that two million recyclable school books have been printed for the school year and are available in Bahrain.
so that private schools can abide by the curriculum.
"4,014 computers, 408 laptops, and MS 565 software have been provided for all students so they can access office services and store their documents," said Alkhater.
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