A CALL to scrap newly-introduced fees for “operating expenses” for the summer semester at Bahrain University has gone out from MPs.
This follows pressure from hundreds of parents and students who have expressed their inability to meet any additional expenses along with the regular educational fees.
An urgent proposal by 20 MPs, led by parliament’s public utilities and environment affairs committee chairman Khalid Bu Onk, has been submitted to National Assembly and Parliament Speaker Fouzia Zainal to forward to the Cabinet.
Currently more than 30,000 students are registered at the nation’s largest university, which has a campus in Sakhir and shares another with Bahrain Polytechnic in Isa Town.
Around 5,000 students register for the summer semester, to fast-track their graduation with priority being given to those with few subjects left towards completing their degree.
Bahraini students pay only BD8 per credit with normal subjects having an average of three credits, which is around BD24, and total BD120 for five subjects per semester following a Royal order two decades ago.
Expat students pay BD80 per credit.
Students can take up to a maximum of three subjects for the summer semester.
The university has two regular semesters with the summer one considered optional.
Registration started on May 5 and ends today.
“What is the basis for the BD50 fee and how was it introduced without being published in the Official Gazette?” asked Mr Bu Onk.
Mr Bu Onk
“We have been in contact with the Education Ministry, the Higher Education Council and Bahrain University officials, and they have said that it is a contribution towards running the summer semester.
“Students are obliged to pay BD8 per credit and a sum for the subjects they study and nothing more. We want the BD50 fee scrapped immediately.
“The national university should serve nationals without imposing a burden on their finances or straining their spending.
“Hundreds of parents visit charity societies or philanthropists seeking help with the regular university fees, but only a few students can be helped, not all.”
The university, which was established in 1986, ranks No. 1 in Bahrain and 25 in the Arab region (QS Arab Ranking, 2021).
Razk Al Dowaihi, a 66-year-old parent, told the GDN he had to borrow money for his two daughters, aged 21 and 22.
“I am a military pensioner with a limited income,” he said.
“My monthly pension goes towards repaying a housing loan and a pension loan and other commitments.
“University education for my two daughters is a priority and seeing them employed as soon as possible would certainly be a much-needed boost.”
His elder son is currently employed, while his second is looking for a job after graduating from the same university two years ago.
“When our children graduate we are happy and the university should works towards turning such dreams into reality.”
Parliament and the Shura Council last year approved BD3.2 million towards construction and furnishing costs at the university for this year and 2023.
University officials were unavailable for comment yesterday.
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