Gender issues emerge as MPs back women-only college plan despite growing criticism

TDT | Manama

Email: mail@newsofbahrain.com

A plan to create a women-only college at the University of Bahrain cleared Parliament yesterday, despite warnings from critics that it could reinforce outdated views on women’s education.

MP Bader Al Tamimi, who proposed the idea, argued that a dedicated institution for female students would offer a more focused learning environment, free from distractions, while promoting privacy and comfort.

He pointed to the success of a private women’s university already operating in Bahrain, calling it “a proven success on the ground”. He also cited studies suggesting that reduced gender interaction in classrooms improves students’ ability to concentrate.

“This proposal is about creating an environment where female students can fully focus on their education,” he said. Not everyone agreed.

Insult

MP Zainab Abdulameer sharply criticised the rationale behind the proposal, calling it “a grave insult to Bahraini women”.

While she accepted that establishing a women’s college could be beneficial in certain respects, she rejected the notion that women need separation from men to thrive academically.

Implication

“If this proposal is passed based on the idea that women need isolation to concentrate, I absolutely cannot support it,” she said. “The implication that women are incapable of focusing in mixed-gender environments is both offensive and unfounded.”

Examples

Abdulameer drew on historical examples, noting that women have played central roles in society for centuries.

She referenced the time of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), when women actively contributed to wars, provided medical aid, and took part in public life.

“Women participated in wars, offered medical aid, and played key roles in social development. Were they ever considered less capable? Of course not,” she said.

Unrealistic

MP Jalal Kadhem also opposed the proposal, calling its reasoning unrealistic.

He rejected the argument that separating students by gender leads to better academic results, pointing out that Bahraini women consistently outperform men in mixed-gender learning settings.

“The ongoing academic success of female students across all fields proves that gender separation does not lead to better results,” he said.

Priority

Kadhem argued that improving the overall education system should be the priority, rather than creating gender-segregated institutions.

He added that learning alongside peers of different genders better prepares students for real-world careers.

“Mixing male and female students in a respectful and well-managed environment builds the skills they need for the workplace,” he said.

Success

He also mentioned the success of male students in Bahrain’s early childhood education system, which has traditionally been a female-led environment.

“The evidence clearly supports mixed learning. Gender segregation doesn’t match the country’s educational goals,” he added.

The Ministry of Education also expressed reservations, warning that a separate women’s college would disrupt the University of Bahrain’s longterm plans.

Concerns

The Ministry highlighted concerns over the viability of existing degree programmes, many of which already face low student numbers. Splitting the university by gender would require a major reshuffle of academic offerings, potentially forcing some programmes to close.

“Many programmes already face challenges with student numbers,” the ministry explained, adding that a separate women’s college would require a complete restructuring of academic offerings and long-term strategies.

Research

The ministry also referred to research showing that mixed-gender learning environments tend to produce more dynamic and engaging classroom discussions.

“The interaction between students of both genders fosters creativity and a lively exchange of ideas that would be lost in a single-gender setting,” officials said.