The first group of students enrolled in Bahrain’s newly introduced International Baccalaureate (IB) programme has begun classes, ushering in a new era of advanced learning in the kingdom’s government schools.
The track, announced by the Education Ministry earlier this year, forms part of a long-term strategy to expand opportunities within the public school system and ensure the education offerings align with the best globally.
A total of 16 schools – eight intermediate and eight secondary schools – have been selected for implementing the course.
Education Minister Dr Mohammed Mubarak Juma earlier said that 400 students have been chosen from a highly-competitive pool of 3,000 applicants, following one of the toughest academic screening processes introduced in the kingdom. A total of 379 students accepted were government school pupils with only 21 transferred from the private schools system.
The selected Grade 8 students, who successfully passed the required assessment stage, have begun the initial phase of the Middle Years Programme (MYP) and are expected to progress to the IB Diploma Programme in secondary school, with the first batch set to graduate in June 2031.
Rayan Al Sukari and Yasmin Ali, both from Al Daih Primary and Intermediate Girls School, said they were eager to join the programme and excited about the opportunities offered by the new curriculum.
Meanwhile, Sayid Qassim Sadeq and Ahmed Al Muallim from Gudaybiyah Primary and Intermediate Boys School expressed pride in being part of a historic first.
They said they had set clear academic goals and were determined to achieve the best possible results throughout the school year.
The IB programme is delivered primarily in English and follows an advanced curriculum designed to promote critical thinking, deeper understanding and the practical application of knowledge, the Education Ministry said in a statement.
It also aims to enhance students’ language proficiency and equip them with the skills needed to pursue higher education and enter the job market with confidence and competence, the statement added.
The GDN previously reported on Bahrain becoming the first in the region to introduce the prestigious programme, in accordance with the memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed between the Education Ministry and the International Baccalaureate Organisation on February 15.
Some private schools in Bahrain have offered IB since the 1990s.
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