HIGHER educational institutions could be set up in Muharraq to help thousands of students facing difficulties in reaching their universities in the south of the country on time.
The Muharraq Municipal Council has unanimously approved a proposal for a multi-university campus that would include branches of Bahrain University, the Bahrain Polytechnic, the Bahrain Training Institute, and the new Isa Al Kabeer Al Hedaya Al Khalifiya University.
Though the members have suggested Busaiteen as the most suitable location, as it already has the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland – Bahrain, the ultimate decision will be the Cabinet’s.
Bahrain University has around 30,000 students registered at its Sakhir, Isa Town and Salmaniya campuses, with 5,000 of them from Muharraq.
There are more than 6,000 students at Bahrain Polytechnic, and 5,000 students are expected to enrol in the new Isa Al Kabeer Al Hedaya Al Khalifiya University coming up in Muharraq.
“There are thousands of students from the Muharraq Governorate who are being forced to drive all the way, or take public transport, to the Southern Governorate to reach Bahrain University campus in Sakhir, or the Bahrain Training Institute or Bahrain Polytechnic campuses in Isa Town,” said council chairman Abdulaziz Al Naar.
“For those using their own vehicles, it takes an average of 90 minutes to arrive for the first lecture, at 8am, in Sakhir or Isa Town from any place in Muharraq.
“Those using the public transport have to be at the nearest bus stop at 6am, returning home by only 7pm if their last lecture is at 4pm.”
Mr Al Naar said students should find it convenient to study.
“Time is being wasted on the road rather than on studying,” he added.
“And for that we want branches of higher education facilities in Muharraq to accommodate our students.”
The council’s services and public utilities committee chairman Ahmed Al Meghawi, who is spearheading the proposal, said between 5,000 and 6,000 students from the governorate were being forced to travel from one end of the country to the other to study.
“I believe Busaiteen is most suitable for a multi-university campus since there are vast plots of land near the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland – Bahrain.”
MPs last week unanimously approved a proposal to resume bus services to and from Bahrain University campuses in Sakhir, Isa Town and Salmaniya and referred it to the Cabinet for review.
In October last year, the university had stopped the services, citing cost saving and environmental protection measures; it instead reached a deal with the public transport company.
Parliament public utilities and environment affairs committee chairman Bader Al Tamimi had then pointed out that the public transport network didn’t extend to new towns such as Salman, Khalifa and East Hidd, and students had to be driven to the nearest bus stops by parents or all the way to the respective campuses.
He added students from far away areas using the public transport took up to two hours to reach the university.
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