All precautions have been taken to ensure the smooth running of schools even if coronavirus cases are found among students and teachers, it has been announced.
Education Minister Dr Majid Al Nuaimi said schools, public and private, will not be shut down completely with teachers and the administration staff having been trained in different case scenarios including cases requiring immediate isolation or quarantining a facility.
He also revealed that 146,000 government school students and 80,000 private school students would start the new 2021-2022 academic year on Tuesday.
Around 75,000 students have registered to attend in-person classes, and this number was expected to reach 80,000 in the next few days, the minister added.
Addressing a Press conference at the ministry’s complex in Isa Town yesterday, Dr Al Nuaimi said that drills on the detection of cases, health and hygiene measures and practices, and trial check-ups were tested in schools as faculty members returned after the summer vacation yesterday.
The minister, who himself inspected several schools to check their preparedness, said the schools were ready and would implement all the protocols set by the National Taskforce for Combating the Coronavirus (Covid-19).
“Even though in Green we can have 100 per cent capacity, students will only occupy 50pc of the space, and would be alternated on week days if they opt for in-person attendance under a hybrid approach.
“We have separate rooms and facilities for isolation should cases be found in schools; there will be no closure unless the Health Ministry deems it necessary in the case of a contagious case. In any case, no one with high temperature will be allowed in.
“Bahrain doesn’t force vaccinations. It’s students’ choice to attend classes in-person or online, even under Green alert.
“If students register for in-person classes and then decide to stay home, it’s their choice.
“Exams for online will remain online and exams for students on campus will be in-person.”
The GDN reported yesterday that according to a ministry post on Instagram, mid-term exams in public schools are being replaced with regular assessments.
For students with hearing and speaking difficulties, a sign language teacher will be present in the classroom along with the regular teacher.
Under the Covid-19 Alert Level Traffic Light System, all educational institutions will resort to remote learning if the country is on Red level.
Parents have been given the option to send their children back to school or receive online education under Orange, Yellow and Green levels.
Attendance should not exceed 30pc in Orange and 50pc in Yellow of the total capacity while it can be 100pc in Green.
Social distancing of at least one metre is applicable in Orange and Yellow levels and half-a-metre in Green.
“Since the outbreak of the pandemic early last year, to date, our electronic education portal, www.moe.gov.bh, has registered 68 million visits. There were 14 specialised channels, including one dedicated for students with disabilities, televised classes, live classes through Microsoft Teams, and thousands of digital material.”
Uploads included 403 books, 1,142 educational units, 979 tests and 6,822 class materials.
Teachers have uploaded 726,688 practice papers, 300,004 class materials, 418,571 tutorials and 20,792 tests.
Referring to Parliament’s proposed legislation to have a separate law for online education, Dr Al Nuaimi stressed it was redundant.
“We don’t need a law to implement virtual education, when our electronic platform surpasses expectations and is developing.
“There should be no limit; after Covid-19 the educational technological field is advancing not just in schools but also in universities.”
The ministry is currently working to transfer the nursery and kindergarten sector from the Labour and Social Development Ministry following a Cabinet decision.
“We have to develop curricula with a wider perspective as children under school age are now also our direct responsibility.”
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