A renewed call has been made for shaded outdoor areas to be installed outside schools across Muharraq, with students facing long waits under the scorching sun during dismissal.
Muharraq Municipal Council services and public utilities committee chairman Abdulqader Al Sayed urged the Education Ministry to move ahead with a proposal to provide external shelters at schools, describing them as an important measure to improve students’ comfort and protect them from harsh weather conditions.
The proposal was previously referred to the ministry, which responded to the council on December 28, 2025, confirming that the matter had been referred to its General Services Directorate to identify existing external shelters, assess proposed locations and examine the possibility of implementation according to need, priority and available financial allocations.
However, Mr Al Sayed said the council had yet to receive an update on the outcome of that assessment.
“We appreciate the Education Ministry’s response and its decision to refer the proposal for study, but so far we have not received any further updates on the results of the survey, the proposed locations or the steps taken towards implementation,” he said.
“We therefore renew our call for the matter to be followed up and for the necessary procedures to be completed.”
The municipal councillor said shaded waiting areas would provide much-needed protection for pupils, particularly during dismissal when children may have to remain outside school gates while waiting for parents or transport.
With Bahrain experiencing prolonged periods of high temperatures, he stressed that providing suitable shaded spaces should be viewed as part of creating a safe and comfortable school environment.
Mr Al Sayed
“These shelters are not simply an additional facility. They address a genuine need for students who are exposed to high temperatures and difficult weather conditions while waiting outside schools,” Mr Al Sayed said.
He also praised Education Minister Dr Mohammed Mubarak Juma for his attention to students’ needs and his record of responding to initiatives aimed at improving their educational environment and wellbeing.
“We have confidence in the minister’s interest in everything related to the safety and comfort of students, and we hope that he will direct the relevant authorities to follow up on this proposal,” he said.
Mr Al Sayed said the council’s proposal was not necessarily calling for shelters to be installed at every school simultaneously.
Instead, he suggested that schools could first be surveyed and ranked according to need, allowing the authorities to begin with locations where students face the greatest shortage of shaded areas.
“A clear plan can be established to identify the schools most in need and prioritise them. This would ensure that available resources are used in the most effective way and that the most pressing locations are addressed first,” he said.
Mr Al Sayed said the council was hopeful that the proposal would now move beyond the study stage and towards practical implementation.
“We renew our request and place it before the minister, confident in his interest and swift response to anything that serves our students and safeguards their comfort and wellbeing,” Mr Al Sayed said.
“We look forward to seeing this proposal move from study to implementation as soon as possible.”
mohammed@gdnmedia.bh
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