PUPILS expressed excitement at starting the new academic year as more than 140,000 students returned to public schools across the country yesterday.

Students from all over Bahrain were welcomed by 18,000 faculty members and administrators, including 797 newly recruited teachers at 209 schools.

Four million books were already distributed among public school students ahead of the new academic year, while 201,615 books were presented to private schools for mandatory subjects.

Education Minister Dr Majid Al Nuaimi also visited a number of schools in different parts of the country to check on the progress of the first day of classes.

“The ministry, as usual in each academic year, was keen to provide the requirements so that the education process runs excellently in terms of facilities or services or human resources of teachers and administrators,” said Dr Al Nuaimi in a statement.

“Comprehensive and preventive maintenance of a large number of schools was carried out as well as cleaning operations, while four million textbooks and teachers manuals have been distributed to all schools.

“The curricula have also been developed as well as the strengthening of educational cadres through the employment of 797 Bahraini teachers of various specialties.

“Free daily transportation will be provided to more than 38,000 students including students with special needs, which will increase this year as part of a pilot project to bring the number of government integration schools to 81 schools distributed across the governorates.”

The GDN previously reported that the ministry was working towards increasing the number of special needs children in time for the start of the new academic year.

It follows a successful pilot scheme last year where 40 autistic students were introduced into the mainstream school system and proved to have “outstanding” grades, especially in mathematics.

Special activities were also hosted at several schools in the country to welcome students and prepare them for the upcoming year, including at the Amna Bint Wahab Primary School for Girls and the Hassan Bin Thabet Primary School for Boys, both in Muharraq.

“This year we had special preparations for receiving the students, especially since for the first grade students,” said Amna Bint Wahab Primary School for Girls first grade teacher Shaikha Sada.

“We prepared many activities that make the students love coming to school and be excited about attending every day.”

Fourth grader Saud Al Dosary, who attends the Hassan Bin Thabet Primary School for Boys, told the GDN he was “very happy to return to school”.

“It has been a long time since I’ve seen my classmates and friends and I wanted to see them and talk to them,” said the nine-year-old.

“I’ve been looking forward to seeing my friends again, discuss questions with them, make plans and things like that to make us closer as friends.”

Most of the students who spoke to the GDN echoed his sentiments and said they were looking forward to “learning new things” and developing their education and skills.

“I feel concerned for my child but I hope she will have a good year and overcome all challenges,” said Naima Sultan, whose seven-year-old daughter started first grade yesterday.

“I hope that the school provides the children with whatever they might need, meet new friends and learn all the things she wants to improve herself, and excel in her studies.”

The GDN previously reported that the Education Ministry – in collaboration with the Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning Ministry – has conducted maintenance on 192 schools, 25 out of which received a complete revamp.

The Traffic Directorate, meanwhile, launched its annual safety campaign called ‘Their Safety is Important to Us’, where a number of officers helped students cross roads and navigate traffic at school gates as well as hand out brochures to parents and drivers reminding them to abide by traffic regulations for the safety of the children.