New national licensing system to ensure only qualified, skilled, and ethical teachers in Bahrain

TDT | Manama

Email : editor@newsofbahrain.com

Parliament has approved an urgent proposal for a national teacher licensing system, bringing education into line with regulated professions such as law and medicine.

Under the plan, the Ministry of Education, working with the Education and Training Quality Authority, would issue a ‘Certified Teacher’ licence to those seeking classroom roles. Criteria would cover qualifications, teaching skill, professional conduct and ongoing development.

Levels

Licences would be tiered by experience and performance into three levels: beginner, practitioner and expert, and renewed on a set cycle using performance reviews and attendance at training programmes.

According to the explanatory memorandum, the scheme aims to raise teaching standards, set clear expectations for conduct and link career progression to achievement.

The document cites uneven experience across the workforce and the spread of digital tools and artificial intelligence as drivers for updated requirements.

Excamples

Comparable systems in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Singapore and Finland are referenced as examples where licensing has been associated with higher standards and stronger public trust.

The motion was taken as urgent on the basis that the issue bears directly on classroom quality and the professional track for teachers.

The submission was made by MPs Zainab AbdulAmeer, Khalid Buanaq, Mohammed Al Ma’arefi, Ahmed Al Salloom and Hisham Al Awadhi.