A forward-thinking government-drafted bill aimed at regulating Bahrain’s private education sector has been approved in principle by the Shura Council, paving the way for the most significant overhaul of private education legislation in more than two decades.
The 36-article draft law, which will be extensively debated at a forthcoming session, replaces Decree-Law No 25 of 1998 governing private educational and training institutions.
The existing legislation, unchanged for nearly 30 years, was widely viewed as outdated amidst rapid expansion, diversification and modernisation of private education.
Education Minister Dr Mohammed Mubarak Juma told the Shura Council that the current law no longer reflects the reality of the sector, which has undergone profound growth and transformation.
“It has been three decades since the existing law was issued, during which major advancements and shifts took place in the educational landscape,” Dr Juma said. “The number of private schools has doubled, student enrolment has doubled and the number of administrators and teachers has doubled as well.”
He said teaching methods, curricula and learning environments had evolved significantly, while regulatory limitations had constrained the sector’s ability to move forward.
“The new law is more comprehensive and forward-looking,” Dr Juma said. “It brings all private educational establishments under the umbrella of monitoring and supervision by the Education Ministry, including nurseries and kindergartens, which were previously overseen through fragmented frameworks.”
According to the Shura Council’s services committee, the private education sector currently serves more than 90,000 students across 81 private schools and institutions, underscoring the need for unified governance and stronger oversight.
Dr Juma stressed that the legislation places quality at its core, while encouraging responsible investment.
“There are vast benefits in this law because we are focusing on educational quality,” he said, noting that the bill also reduces the minimum age for wishing to invest in private educational institutions.
* Under the new framework, licensing procedures will be streamlined, with initial approvals granted by the ministry before applicants are required to obtain additional clearances from other authorities – reversing the current process.
* The law also introduces councils for parents and guardians in private schools – a measure Dr Juma described as vital for strengthening engagement and accountability. However, such councils will be optional for nurseries and kindergartens.
* Among the notable provisions, schools will be permitted to lease their facilities for events and sporting activities, while outstanding institutions will be granted incentives to be detailed in future executive bylaws.
He added that underperforming schools would be required to implement corrective measures, stressing that the majority of private schools already exceed standards voluntarily – a fact reflected in the growing number of regional families enrolling their children in Bahrain.
The minister also confirmed that enhanced vetting procedures, including security checks, in co-ordination with the Interior Ministry, would apply to all those seeking employment in the sector.
Any events held on school premises would require prior approval, while parents would no longer have to pay additional fees related to school expansions.
“We will deal seriously with violations,” Dr Juma said. “We have already closed a private school in co-ordination with the Industry and Commerce Ministry for serious breaches.”
Dr Al Salman
Services committee chairwoman Dr Jameela Al Salman described the bill as a long-overdue reform aligned with modern educational realities.
“This legislation represents a qualitative shift in the way private educational institutions are governed and supervised,” she said. “It safeguards the interests of students and parents, while providing clarity, stability and confidence for investors and operators.”
She highlighted that the existing law no longer addressed developments such as early childhood education, specialised learning centres, digital platforms and modern governance standards.
A key reform concerns tuition fees – schools will be required to obtain ministerial approval before raising fees, with a defined appeals mechanism.
“The law introduces a transparent and fair system to regulate tuition fees,” Dr Al Salman said. “This ensures fees are proportionate to services provided and consider families’ financial circumstances, while maintaining institutional sustainability.”
The bill also introduces a graduated system of administrative and criminal penalties – including fines of up to BD100,000, licence suspension or revocation, and imprisonment of up to one year for serious violations such as operating without a licence or submitting fraudulent information.
At the same time, high-performing institutions will benefit from incentives such as simplified licence renewals and greater flexibility in programme development.
Dr Al Fadhel and Mr Fakhro
Shura Council first vice-chairman Jamal Fakhro said the law addresses a long-standing legislative gap.
“The delay in updating educational legislation created a gap between legal texts and the reality of private schools,” he said, calling for balanced enforcement, particularly for nurseries and smaller institutions.
Shura second vice-chairwoman Dr Jihad Al Fadhel described the bill as a ‘professionally advanced’ piece of legislation.
Official figures reveal that nearly one-third of Bahrain’s students are educated in private institutions, Dr Al Fadhel said.
“The law clearly addresses the issues that matter most to society – student protection, tuition fees and adherence to national values,” he said.
The Shura Council approved the bill in principle, with a final vote on individual articles scheduled for a later session.
mohammed@gdnmedia.bh
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