AN MP has proposed the setting up of government kindergartens where early education is offered to Bahraini children free of cost.
Parliament is set to debate an amendment to the 2005 Education Law, presented by Strategic Thinking Bloc member Bassema Mubarak, who has stressed the need to expand the role of the Education Ministry to include the establishment and management of preschools, while also supporting and supervising private sector initiatives in this field.
The proposal has been recommended for approval by Parliament’s services committee.
Ms Mubarak said it aims to integrate kindergartens into mainstream education. She added that fair wages should be provided to all employees, with qualified educators in public kindergartens receiving salaries equivalent to those of teachers in government schools.
Parliament’s financial and economic affairs committee, chaired by MP Ahmed Al Salloom, said the bill, if approved, would ease the financial and living costs for Bahraini families while improving wages in nurseries.
“Although implementing the law would require additional budget allocations, it represents a strategic investment in Bahrain’s human capital, ultimately promoting sustainable economic growth,” he added.
Education Minister Dr Mohammed Mubarak Juma said the ministry’s role in early childhood education primarily involves licensing and supervising kindergartens, while their establishment and management are handled by the private sector, in accordance with international best practices.
The ministry already offers direct and indirect support to kindergartens and their staff based on available resources, he said. The institutions are required to comply with the provisions of private education laws and any violations result in administrative or legal actions.
“The government has issued a regulatory framework for independent early childhood education institutions to enhance their operations, improve service quality, and strengthen oversight,” Dr Juma noted.
“For the academic year 2022-2023, 19,043 children, aged three to six, were enrolled in kindergartens, which is a large number for the ministry to absorb, under the proposed move – whether the numbers are constant or increasing.”
Ms Mubarak asserted that the proposed legislation would ensure equal opportunities for Bahraini children, enhance the quality of education and improve working conditions for employees in the sector.
Meanwhile, MPs will debate and vote on amendments to the Private Educational and Training Establishments Law that would prioritise Bahrainis in administrative and teaching jobs in private schools and institutes. The government-drafted amendment is based on a parliamentary proposal.
mohammed@gdnmedia.bh
&uuid=(email))