School enrolment age: Indian expat students in a tight spot

Manama : The discrepancy in the enrolment age of expatriate students in schools in the Kingdom has put Indian students in a tight spot.

As per the Ministry of Education, the enrolment age for students in Grade 1 is six years as on 31st of March of the year on which admission is sought. This, however, contrasts with the admission procedures in India where the admission age is between 5 and 7 years. 

The rule insists that the pupil’s age has to be determined by the original birth certificate. If the student doesn’t have one, he/she will be referred to Private Education as next step. If a student’s birth certificate doesn’t match the 31 December criterion, the Ministry will call for a non-registration. 

As a result, Indian pupils living or those recently transferred to the Kingdom may struggle with admissions and promotions to higher grades. 

Prince S. Natrajan, chairman of the Indian School Bahrain, said: “We understand these modifications have been made by the ministry officials to improve the schooling system. But we are also aware of the issues it might cause for the existing and potential students following Indian curriculum.  

“A child moving from UKG to first standard, who may not fall within the age criteria, may have to spend precious amount of time repeating the syllabus. The same happens to a child who has recently moved from India and does not meet the age requirements because of systemic differences,” said Natrajan. 

“So far, we have restricted admissions on infrastructural availability issues. As education providers, we are trying our best to maintain balance between the ministerial laws and ensuring equal opportunities for the students,” he said.

Meanwhile, United Parents Panel Coordinator Rafeeq Abdulla spoke to several frantic parents whose wards had been denied admissions as they over-ran the age criterion by a mere one or two months. 

Abdulla said: “There is a state of panic and confusion among the parents. It is mainly because the schools have been holding private meetings about the issue. For middle-class families, their prime objective will be to educate their children. The new circumstances have put them in a dilemma. I have requested the Indian schools in Bahrain to take immediate steps to tackle the problem.”

One of the parents trying to admit his child into a leading Indian school in Bahrain echoed similar sentiment about applications being put on indefinite holds. He said that three weeks ago he had applied for his child’s admission to UKG. But, he said, he was told to wait as the school was still sorting out matters with the ministry. 

“I am clueless about the technicalities of the issue as we have not been fairly informed. But I do not know how long I would be waiting for. The kids have to start schooling at the same time as their peers,” said the parent.

The principals of schools following Indian curriculums have meanwhile conducted meetings to discuss the potential difficulties that may arise out of the new laws and tried to devise solutions.

Muhammad Tayyab, principal of Ibn Al Haytham Islamic School expressed concerns and raised an important point: Apart from the primary schools, the rule may also impact those who wish to pursue higher studies in India. They might become ineligible for entrance examinations where there is an age bar. “However,  I have personally submitted a letter to the Ministry of Education requesting to exempt CBSE schools from the age restriction,”he said.

The educationists are currently in discussions with relevant ministry officials and are waiting for responses.