The standard and availability of primary, secondary, tertiary and specialist education in Bahrain is exceptionally high and state education is provided free for all children living in Bahrain regardless of whether or not they are of Bahraini nationality. 

For expatriates living in Bahrain there are a number of international and private schools available that are fee paying but which follow alternative curricula such as the British National Curriculum or the American Curriculum for example.  Bahrain also has a wide range of very high standard universities and specialist colleges which means that a high standard of education at all levels is available in Bahrain.

The Bahraini Ministry of Education’s website is absolutely the best place to begin a search for educational establishments in Bahrain, it lists every single establishment as well as all the laws governing teaching and learning in the Kingdom. 

Education used not to be compulsory in Bahrain yet despite this the majority of children in Bahrain of all nationalities attended school from the age of six up to the age of sixteen – in recent years legislation has been passed and now schooling is compulsory.  Traditional teaching methods in Bahrain focus on the all round development of the child into a socially responsible and tolerant individual rather than someone qualified to do a specific job or perform a skill. 

Text books and the required teaching apparatus necessary for the teaching of the Bahraini Ministry of Education Curriculum are supplied free of charge to all children who attend state schools.  Girls and boys of primary and early secondary school age are taught separately in state run schools; co-ed schools and colleges only exist for children over the age of about 16. 

Expatriates living and working in Bahrain may prefer to send their children to a school where the national curriculum of the country from which they originate is taught.  For British, American, Jordanian, Saudi Arabian, Lebanese and Indian families this is a possibility in the Kingdom and the current list of international schools includes the Abdul Rahman Kanoo, Al Falah, Al Fanar, Al Hekma International, Al Iman, Al Ma’aref Al Hadeetha, Al Mahad, Al Noor International, Al Raja and Al Sanabel schools – the addresses and contact information for each institution can be found on the Ministry of Education’s website.

For those with children who have specialist educational requirements there are a number of institutions which teach visually, physically or mentally impaired children for example, but wherever possible the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs or the Special Education Group will integrate children into the mainstream schooling system and provide extra assistance where required.

In terms of tertiary education Bahrain is rich in universities and specialist colleges which teach everything from mathematics or banking and finance to IT or foreign language skills.  A growing number of international students from around the world apply each year for study visas to attend world renowned Bahraini universities and a degree from a Bahrain university is generally regarded very highly.

The University of Bahrain, Arabian Gulf University, Bahrain Institute of Banking and Finance, University College of Bahrain and the Medical University of Bahrain (pictured) are the best examples of first class tertiary education institutions and each offers a high standard of education.

To learn more about the educational options available for you or your children, to search for jobs in Bahrain in the teaching industry or to contact a specific educational establishment begin by looking at the Ministry of Education’s Website, try contacting schools directly or use the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation’s ‘Education for All’ website.