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MP seeks financial aid for varsity students abroad

A lawmaker is demanding to provide Bahraini university students, who are studying abroad with a monthly allowance, despite the educational authorities rejection citing “lack of funds.”

MP Isa Turki called upon the government to financially support Bahraini students, who are studying in universities abroad on their own expenses.

Turki suggested that the allowance should initially be at a minimum of BD60 for each student.

He underlined the necessity of his proposal to support Bahraini students in their higher studies abroad, claiming that the scholarships provided by Education Ministry had become insufficient considering the increasing numbers of students graduating from high schools every year.

“This would contribute in reducing financial burden on the students’ families, especially that higher education fees have increased worldwide,” he said. “Financially supporting Bahraini university students, who are bearing the expenses of education abroad, have become a national duty.”

Meanwhile, the Education Ministry said “the Ministry’s budget isn’t sufficient to bear additional expenses at this point.”

The Ministry explained that it’s annually financially supporting all students, who scored 90 per cent and above in high school, in addition to providing scholarships for all students with special needs, talented students, dynamic students in school activities, cancer patients, students with special abilities and memorisers of the Holy Quran as a token of appreciation.

“There are several parties in the Kingdom that are financially supporting student programmes. The Ministry is only concerned about the previously mentioned student categories,” it said.

The proposal was submitted to Services Parliamentary Committee, which approved it after seven months of discussion. It’s now waiting to be given a green light from the rest of the MPs.

DT News  reported last month that a group of MPs introduced a law proposal that obliges the government to establish a fund to support Bahraini students who aren’t financially capable of continuing their education.

They said that “every Bahraini student who wishes to continue higher studies in accredited local universities or abroad should benefit from the services of the fund.” The matter is still being discussed and no development was announced about the council about it yet.