Lack of safety leaves pupils in limbo

Manama : Junior students of Ibn Al Hytham Islamic School may have to waste an academic year as the Ministry of Education has ordered a shut down on its Manama campus.

Four months ago the ministry had issued a notice to close down the school’s junior campus for the students from LKG to Grade 3, on the ground that the old building was unsafe for the children.

The school held discussions with ministry officials to temporarily transfer 180 LKG students to the senior campus of Al Maqsha, Seef, for a period of one year.

As the outcome of the discussion is still pending, and it’s time for the school to start fresh academic year from the first week of April, the LKG-Grade 3 students have been left in limbo with nowhere to go.

“We have been trying our best to seek permission from the ministry to move LKG students to the HKG senior campus. The proposal is still being evaluated, and we have been asked to produce documents such as timetables, school maps and the likes to make an informed decision within the next two weeks,” said Shakil Ahmed Azmi, chairman of Ibn Al Hytham Islamic School.

He said he has already informed the parents about the situation. “We have asked the parents to find an alternate school for their wards for one year. If they want to come back after one year of schooling, their children will be admitted to Ibn Al Hytham without any fees,” the chairman said.

Meanwhile, parents are reported to be struggling to find admissions into other Indian schools because seats have already been filled and admissions have been closed.

According to a parent, they were assured by the school that their children’s education would be looked after. “But after all these months of waiting, we have been asked to collect transfer certificates and find our own ways to tackle the situation,” the parent said.

“I am seriously worried about my child’s future because every other school has denied admissions as it has become late. Time is precious and my ward may have to waste a year because of these changes,” he said.

The parents have requested the school authorities to rent a new building for the time being so that the students can continue their education without disruption.

Last week, the school management had held a meeting to discuss the technicalities in finding a new venue and to gauge other solutions.