Government objects to proposal for Ministry-run kindergartens

TDT | Manama

Email: mail@newsofbahrain.com

A proposal to amend the Education Law would require the Ministry of Education to establish kindergartens, support private providers to set them up and oversee them on teaching and administrative matters.

The government has objected, saying the plan runs against Bahrain’s education policy and common practice overseas.

The government says the bill’s aim is to bring compulsory schooling into the early years by making kindergarten provision a direct duty of the ministry.

Practice

It points to regional and overseas practice: most countries set six as the compulsory age to start school.

Bahrain does the same, fixing six as the legal age to begin basic education.

The government adds that the ministry already supervises kindergartens, encourages private providers to open them and offers direct and indirect support to institutions and staff to raise service quality and keep provision steady.