Bahrain23 November 20152 min read

No more free education for expatriate children

By DT News Network. In a bid to expenditures at the Ministry of Education and redirect government subsidies to benefit only Bahraini citizens, a lawmaker will submit a proposal tomorrow to restrict free education in the country to most expatriate children. Financial and Economic Affairs Parliamentar

Editorial Team Legacy

Published 23 November 2015, 8:00 · Updated 21:41

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No more free education for expatriate children

In a bid to expenditures at the Ministry of Education and redirect government subsidies to benefit only Bahraini citizens, a lawmaker will submit a proposal tomorrow to restrict free education in the country to most expatriate children.

Financial and Economic Affairs Parliamentary Committee Deputy Chairman Jalal Kadhem Al Mahfoudh recently announced that he will submit the proposal during the council’s weekly meeting tomorrow, stipulating imposing fees on non-Bahraini students who are studying in public schools.

“We aim to increase the state’s income and rationalise spending that benefits non- Bahrainis,” Al Mahfoudh explained on his bid that will grant free education exclusively to Bahrainis.

He also noted to a previous statement made by Minister of Education Dr Majid Al Nuaimi, mentioning that “each student annually costs the state around BD3000.” The MP stressed that “such big amounts should benefit only Bahrainis and GCC nationals.”

Al Mahfoudh affirmed that the proposal doesn’t contradict human rights and the right of education for all. He justified that “it aims to regulate the educational process and that is one of the State’s rights.” “Neighbouring GCC states impose fees on students from outside the country who study in public schools. In fact, these states have a whole set of conditions and standards to accept expatriate children in public schools,” the lawmaker clarified.

Al Mahfoudh said the proposal targets all school levels (elementary, intermediate and secondary) and will introduce a payment mechanism to regulate the acceptance and registration of expatriate children in public schools.

“This will benefit the state budget and provide additional funds that could be invested in developing education and school projects in the country,” he added.

Photo Caption: The proposal aims to make free education in public schools exclusive for Bahraini students

No more free education for expatriate children

Editorial Team Legacy

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