COVID-19: Low turnout of students at Bahrain schools

Cairo: Contrary to expectations, Bahraini authorities’ permission of partial return to schools has generated a low attendance, schoolteachers have said.

Bahrain allowed the return of students on an optional basis to their classrooms in public schools on October 25 amid stringent precautions against the coronavirus after some parents expressed interest in class education.

“Full preparations were made to receive the students after a long hiatus. But students’ attendance was lower than the registered numbers after some students changed their minds and opted for distance learning,” an unnamed secondary school teacher told Bahraini newspaper Al Watan.

She explained that maximum nine students are allowed in each class as part of precautions against the spread of COVID-19.

Another teacher, Sara Abdullah, said 75 girl students were expected to come to school, but the number of those who did show up were 25.

Students saw the situation differently. “The situation at school is depressing. Spirit of schooling is not there. Only fear, worries and tensions are there,” a preparatory schoolgirl said. She added that students are not allowed to leave the class unless necessary.

“Lessons are electronically explained. Therefore, there is no difference between personal attendance and remote learning. I expected that teaching would be made by an in-person teacher as was the situation before,” she added.

The new academic year for public schools started in Bahrain on October 11 with remote learning as a precaution to contain the spread of the coronavirus.