A new Russian language school may be opened in Bahrain, with the Russian Embassy encouraging its nationals living in the kingdom to answer a survey to determine its feasibility.
The assessment, launched by the Chechen State Pedagogical University, based in Grozny, is being carried out in collaboration with the embassy.
The aim is to collect data that will ‘enable relevant authorities’ to make a decision on the project and ‘determine optimal implementation paths’.
Speaking to the GDN, Russian Ambassador Dr Alexey Skosyrev said that the school would enhance the relationship between Bahrain and Russia even further. “Russia considers Bahrain to be one of its most important and trusted partners in the Arab and Islamic world,” he said.
“That is why it is no surprise that Moscow seeks to expand multi-faceted humanitarian co-operation with the kingdom.
“The field of education is no exception, especially taking into account its crucial role in building bonds between our people.
“Due to the ever growing number of Bahrainis participating in Russian scholarship programmes, authorities decided it is high time to take our educational links to the next level.”
The proposed school would provide tuition in accordance with the Russian curriculum, and in compliance with the country’s educational standards.
It would also ‘adjust for local rulings and regulations’ in order to adhere to the laws of the kingdom.
According to the embassy, there are an estimated 3,000 Russians residing in Bahrain.
The new school would not only serve the educational needs of Russian nationals and language speakers in the country, but also Bahrainis who may consider studying in Russia at university level.
Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) subjects, which Russia has been long famous for, would be among the highlights of the curriculum.
The project is still in its infancy. “It is still a plan for the future,” added Dr Skosyrev. “The timeline, potential location, and other particularities have not yet been discussed. At this stage, our main task is to evaluate the project’s feasibility.”
The survey, which opened on November 27, was set to close today but an extension period has not been ruled out.
“We seriously hope that the Russian School becomes a reality one day,” said Dr Skosyrev.
“We have no doubts that co-operation between our two nations in sectors such as education will continue to grow closer and stronger.”
Relations between Bahrain and Russia date back to the Soviet era, when the two countries established diplomatic relations in September 1990.
In December 1991, Bahrain recognised Russia as the successor state to the dissolved Soviet Union, and has since then seen multiple visits from both countries’ leaders, with His Majesty King Hamad in 2015 famously presenting Russian President Vladimir Putin with a sword of Damascus steel and Mr Putin gifting His Majesty an Akhal-Teke stallion by the name of Khadjibek.
- Russian speakers who wish to participate in the survey can do so by clicking on a link on the embassy’s Instagram social media account @rus.emb.inbahrain.
nader@gdnmedia.bh
Dr Alexey Skosyrev was appointed as the ambassador of the Russian Federation to Bahrain in August 2022.
He graduated from the Moscow State Institute of International Relations in 1987 and, as well as Russian, speaks fluent Arabic, English and Italian.
He joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1987, occupied various posts both in the headquarters of the ministry and missions abroad.
Other roles include 2005-2012 – counsellor, senior counsellor of the Russian embassy in Israel.
2012-2016 and 2019-2020 – head of the section at the Middle East and North Africa Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
2016-2019 – senior counsellor of the embassy in the US. 2020-2022 - deputy director of the Middle East and North Africa Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
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