Bahrain Minister reaffirms education for all

Manama : Education Minister Dr. Majid bin Ali Al Nuaimi visited Oqba bin Nafie Primary Boys’ School and reviewed the ministry-provided services to autistic schoolchildren in the school yesterday.

During his visit to the school, the minister inaugurated a new classroom for autistic schoolchildren including acoustically insulated compartments to facilitate interactive teaching/learning process, as well as a group corner to prepare autistic children for inclusion in regular classes.

Dr. Al Nuaimi reaffirmed the ministry’s keenness on the providing education for all children, including children  with special needs.

Currently, the number of schools that applied for the inclusion this year reached 77, including 14 primary schools for inclusion of autistic students, he said. 

Two classrooms are now open in the Oqba bin Nafie Primary Boys’ School and Ammar bin Yasser Primary Boys’ School, with intake capacity of 80 seats for this category.

Autistic schoolchildren are being included with their peers in sports, design, technology, computer and art classes. 

A teacher who is specialized in special education and highly trained to deal with this category of students is usually made available for each and every student. 

Efforts by management in every school continue to enlighten parents and encourage them to seek assistances to their children who might have special needs, said the minister. 

He added that the experience of inclusion in the preceding school year succeeded in the ultimate transferring of 21 schoolchildren from special to regular classes.