MPs seek review of University of Bahrain fees

Mohammed Darwish 

MPs have called for a review of a string of University of Bahrain fees after students complained of rising costs for summer courses, late-stage study and re-enrolment.

Parliament’s Services Committee has approved a proposal asking the government to look again at charges introduced or raised by the national university.

The proposal says the fees have placed added strain on students and their families, many of them from low-income homes.

It calls for university charges to be brought back into line with the living costs faced by a wide share of students. It also seeks to uphold the principle that education is a right for all citizens and to stop further rises linked to higher study.

The committee said all members present agreed to approve the proposal, citing public interest grounds.

The explanatory note says the plan is rooted in Article 7 of Bahrain’s Constitution, which states that the state shall care for science, literature and the arts, and encourage scientific research.

It says universities and higher education bodies are among the main pillars of learning and research, and that citizens should be able to carry on with higher education without costs beyond the means of poorer families.

MPs said the proposal followed many complaints from students.

They said the University of Bahrain had introduced new fees for summer study, doubled course fees for students who had passed 10 semesters, raised charges after re-enrolment and required students to buy certain books at high prices.

They argued that forcing students to buy named books ran against the basis of university learning, which should give students room to choose their own research sources.

The proposal asks the government to cancel or amend university decisions that MPs say have raised the cost of diploma and bachelor’s study, while giving the university new income from students.

The committee has recommended that the proposal be passed.