Introduction
1919 marked the beginning of the modern public school system in Bahrain when Al-Hidaya Al-Khalifa School for Boys was opened in Muharraq. In 1926, the Education Committee opened the second public school for boys in Manama and in 1928 the first public school for girls was opened in Muharraq.
Education in Bahrain is compulsory, and all school age children attend either public or private schools. Children with disabilities attend special institutions. The Ministry of Education in Bahrain provides free education for all Bahraini and non-Bahraini students in public schools. Additionally, the Ministry of Education provides textbooks in every subject for all students in public schools free of charge at the beginning of each academic year.
Education in public schools is segregated: there are separated schools for boys and girls with teaching and administrative staff of the same gender. However, in some instances there are boys' public primary schools where the teaching and administrative staffs are mixed. A choice of coeducation or segregation is available in private schools, while state universities are all coeducational.
In 2004 His Majesty King Hamad introduced a project that uses information and communication technology (ICT) to support basic and secondary education in Bahrain. This project is named the King Hamad Schools of the Future. The objective of this project is to link all schools within the kingdom via the Internet and introduce the concept of electronic education.
In addition to British intermediate schools, the island is served by the Bahrain School, a United States Department of Defence school that provides a K-12 curriculum including the International Baccalaureate.
Private schools also exist that offer either the IB Diploma Programme or UK A-Levels. In 2007, St Christopher's School will become the first school in Bahrain to offer a choice of IB or A-Levels for students. Numerous international educational institutions and schools have established links to Bahrain.
Bahrain encourages institutions of higher learning, drawing on expatriate talent and the increasing pool of Bahraini nationals returning from abroad with advanced degrees. The University of Bahrain has been established for standard undergraduate and graduate study, and the College of Health Sciences, operating under the direction of the Ministry of Health , trains nurses, pharmacists, and paramedics. Both the Arabian Gulf University and Bahrain Medical University graduates physicians.
The national action charter, passed in 2001, paved the way for the formation of private universities. Over 13 private universities currently operate in Bahrain.
Asian institutes have also been established to provide good quality education to Asian students. These include the Pakistan Urdu School and the Indian School, which provide for the needs of children whose families hail for the Indian Subcontinent and are resident in Bahrain.
Basic Learning
Basic education is divided into two levels as follows:
1) Primary Level
This level represents the first rungs of the formal educational ladder. It covers the 6-11 years old age group, and lasts for six years. This level is divided into two cycles: the first cycle combines the first three grades of primary education. The class-teacher system is applied in all schools of this cycle. Under this system one teacher teaches all subjects with the exception of English Language, Design and Technology, Music and Physical Education.
The second cycle combines the upper three grades. A subject-teacher system is applied in this cycle with a specialised teacher teaching each subject.
For more detail, please visit the Online School Enrollment page.
2) Intermediate Level
This is the third cycle of basic education, covers students of 12-14 years old, and lasts for three years. The student is admitted to this level upon completion of the sixth grade of primary education. A subject-teacher system is applied at this level with educationally qualified teachers teaching each subject.
3) Secondary Education
This level is considered as a continuous to the basic education and a new phase for the student as it prepares him/her for higher education or labour market. It lasts for three years divided into six semesters of three levels. Entry is conditional on obtaining the Intermediate School certificate or its equivalent.
The credit-hours system is applied in this level that provide broad choices of subjects and courses. It permits students to tailor programs that suit their future goals.
Under this system, the student is free to choose to study in one of the following categories:
Science and Mathematics, Languages and Human Sciences, Business, Industry or Professional Education. The study plan, at the Secondary level - the unification of tracks system – relies on the total credit hours required to obtain the Secondary School Certificate.
Universities
- Ahlia University
- Medical University of Bahrain
- University of Bahrain
- AMA International University Bahrain
- Arab Open University, Bahrain
- Arabian Gulf University
- University College of Bahrain
- Gulf University
- Royal University for Women
- The Kingdom University
- Applied Science University
- Talal Abu-Ghazaleh University College of Business
- Bahrain Institute of Banking & Finance (BIBF)
- DePaul University
- Bentley College
Private Schools
A'alia School
Sitra Hamreya
37304
17730960
17737227
AMA School of Basic Education
Janoosan
-
17593858
17590835
Abdulrahman Kanoo International School
Salmabad
2512
17875055
17877000
Al Amal Special Education Institute
Isa Town
32666
17680815
17689639
Al Falah Private Schools - Muharraq (Boys)
Muharraq
24955
17336627
17332029
Al Falah Private Schools - Muharraq (Girls)
Muharraq
24955
17323699
17332029
Al Falah Private Schools - Riffa (Boys)
East Riffa
24955
17763670
17772967
Al Falah Private Schools - Riffa (Girls)
East Riffa
24955
17777822
17772859
Al Hekma International School
Sanad
26489
17620820
17624800
Al Iman School - Boys
Isa Town
29292
17681818
17680808
Al Iman School - Girls
Isa Town
29292
17684848
17781083
Al Mahd Day Boarding School
Saar
30331
17792422
17792606
Al Majd School
Zinj
-
17272715
17272710
Al Manar Private Schools
Salmabad
-
17786767
17789105
Al Naseem International school
West Riffa
28503
17689684
17687166
Al Noor International School
Sitra
85
17736773
17735650
Al Raja School
Manama
1
17254414
17273073
Al Rawabi School
Jiblat Hebshi
18575
17595252
17592033
Al Wesam School
Janabiya
-
17699595
17699883
Ali Bin Ebrahim Abdula'al School
Tubli
-
17783432
17785354
Arabian Gulf Pearl School
Belad Al Qadeem
20304
17403666
17404074
Bahrain Bayan Model School
Isa Town
32411
17682227
17780019
Bahrain International School
Juffair
934
17727828
17725714
Bangladesh School
Manama
20305
17257745
17275782
Bawabat Al Ma'ali Private School
A'ali
609
17644336
17645551
British School
Hamala
-
17613330
17613330
British School
Manama
15775
17710878
17710875
Creativity Private School
Salmaniya
-
17243855
17243844
Delmon School
Manama
26425
17713483
17713484
French School
Busaiteen
24447
17323770
17336492
Habara School
Zinj
26516
17271737
17251812
Hawar International School
East Riffa
38338
17770040
17774020
Ibn Al Haytham Islamic School
Janoosan
11980
17591449
17595699
Ibn Al Haytham Islamic School
Manama
11980
17271694
17256546
Ibn Khuldoon National School
Isa Town
20511
17780661
17698028
Indian School - Isa Town
Isa Town
558
17684166
17682120
Indian School - Sitra
Sitra-Village
558
17732120
17732337
Japanese School
Saar
30084
17791550
17791660
Middle East Schools
Salhiya
1328
17241138
17234054
Modern Education School
Barbar
30908
17695855
17694057
Modern Knowledge School
Juffair
15826
17727712
17827449
Nadeen School
Um Al Hassam
26367
17728886
17728886
New Generation International School
Juffair
-
17235000
17135000
New Millennium School
Manama
26271
17272700
17275151
Pakistan School - Isa Town
Isa Town
5952
17682304
17682320
Pakistan School - Manama
Manama
5952
17275731
17682320
Pakistan Urdu School - Isa Town
Isa Town
3170
17687922
17685524
Pakistan Urdu School - Manama
Manama
3170
17252310
17685524
Palms Primary School
West Riffa
-
17666637
17664544
Philippine School
A'ali
10417
17645451
17644101
Quality Education School
Salhiya
21566
17277984
17231429
Sacred Heart School - Isa Town
Isa Town
388
17684367
17680252
Sacred Heart School - Manama
Manama
388
17233441
17680252
Sanabil School
Janabiya
10079
17693941
17791378
Shaikha Hessa Girls' School
West Riffa
37799
17756111
17750700
St. Christopher's School - Awali
Awali
32052
17750755
17756956
St. Christopher's School - Budaiya
Barbar
32052
17691837
17694211
St. Christopher's School - Isa Town
Isa Town
32052
17788108
17788110
St. Christopher's School - Maqaba
Maqaba
32052
17598600
17598604
Talents International & The Infant School - East Riffa
East Riffa
26625
17770078
17770073
Talents International & The Infant School - Manama
Burhama -Kanoo Gardens
26625
17252346
17263362
The Asian School - Branch 1
Um Al Hassam
1143
17722886
17720207
The Asian School - Branch 2
Juffair
1143
17728857
17720207
The International School of Choueifat - Bahrain
Amwaj Islands
-
16033333
16033330
The New Horizon School
Suqaiya
-
17262139
17259512
The New Indian School
East Riffa
33131
17622350
17622351
Page Last Updated: 25 Jul, 2019