I WAS very pleased with the decision of Sunni Endowments Council chairman Shaikh Dr Rashid bin Mohammed Al Hajri to allocate around BD500,000 to sponsor 185 students in various disciplines at universities in Bahrain (‘185 students get sponsorship, GDN, October 14).
This project, started in 1995, is part of the council’s principle of social solidarity and community partnership, and one of the many good deeds that it is involved in.
The board, set up in 1927, is one of the oldest government departments not only in Bahrain but also around the Arabian Gulf.
I have previously written about how Bahrain is in dire need of diversifying charitable projects and the need for bodies responsible for this to find creative ideas.
We must value science and education because when society is educated and literate, all problems will be solved and our lives would be much better.
Science is what arms the society by controlling all aspects of life such as economy, trade, agriculture, industry and technology, among others, so that countries become self-sufficient for the community.
It is also important for science to have a role in directing all spheres of life, so that society is based on fixed and studied rules.
It is no secret that the Education Ministry, due to its modest budget, finds it difficult to fulfil the requirements of providing scholarships for outstanding students. We must admit that we have failed in this aspect and have never given it the attention it deserves.
The Crown Prince International Scholarship Programme solved some of the ministry’s problems and has worked well but it, too, remains bound by a specific budget and is linked to the support of companies, banks and private institutions.
Several private companies have, meanwhile, devised a wonderful method in developing and training their employees and have allocated a budget to encourage them to study at university and improve their qualifications. Of course, they have been able to achieve the desired results by giving workers the opportunity to study as well as ensuring their loyalty and belonging.
The council’s initiative is complementary to those for higher education for Bahraini students and I am confident that it is doing this professionally and fairly and according to specific standards and controls. I hope this noble work continues in a sustainable manner and that civil society institutions and associations follow the example.
Zuhair Tawfiqi
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