His Majesty Sheikh Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, King of Bahrain, yesterday announced that "channels are open" in the island to "establish private colleges", and announced that more students would be exempted of tuition fees.

In an address yesterday to students of Bahrain University delivered via satellite marking the 1st anniversary of the National Action Charter (NAC), the King underlined "the pioneering role shouldered by the university in educating and training the new generation in the process of progress and development".

He also announced that more students will be exempted of tuition fees. "In perusing our keen interest to maintain the future of our sons of limited income families studying at Bahrain university, we instructed to double the number of students benefiting pf tuition fees exemptions," the King said.

Last year, Sheikh Hamad introduced numerous humanitarian gestures to Bahrainis of limited income. One was reducing tuition fees at Bahrain University from BD720 to BD120.