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A private school in Hidd offering an American and IB curriculum has closed its doors due to ‘financial difficulties’, the GDN has been told.
The Education Ministry confirmed to the newspaper that the American Creativity Academy’s (ACA Bahrain) educational licence was terminated based on a ‘request by investors due to financial difficulties’.
The GDN contacted the Hidd school and its operators, via email and WhatsApp, but had received no response before going to Press.
The Industry and Commerce Ministry yesterday further stated that the academy’s commercial registration was still valid, awaiting a request for liquidation.
The sudden closure of the school shortly before the start of the new academic year (2026-2027) placed parents and students in a state of limbo.
“They left students, families and staff stunned and without jobs,” said a comment on an Instagram post by the school.
Another furious parent commented on the same post: “Many parents made decisions, paid fees, prepared their children, arranged their lives and planned around the academic year based on the commitments made.
“And now, with one-day’s notice, you have left families stranded just weeks before the new school year. These are not numbers on a spreadsheet.
“Professionalism is taking responsibility when things go wrong.
“Communication is not simply marketing announcements. Communication is giving families adequate notice when a decision will fundamentally change their children’s lives.”
The closure has left many families angry and confused, but other private schools have stepped in to assist them in the new admission process.
“We’ve been told it’s closed. we’re getting some of their students,” said one senior school teacher in Bahrain. It is understood that another leading school has offered desperate families a special ‘payment plan’ to help them cover the cost of enrollment and related fees.
“It’s been so stressful as we have already paid the closed academy fully for the coming term. We just didn’t have enough to pay out the full amount again in one lump sum,” another angry parent told the GDN.
According to its website, ACA Bahrain was founded this year as an international school offering an American and IB curriculum for learners from Pre-Nursery to Grade 12. Annual tuition fees ranged from BD1,688 to BD5,118. The school is part of the renowned Kuwaiti Sama Educational Company, according to its website.
It replaced the former Beacon Private School.
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