Abstract
The Kingdom of Bahrain is a constitutional monarchy that has a long history dating back over 5000 years. It is the only island-state in the Gulf. It is also the smallest, and has the lowest population, of all the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) States. Due to Bahrain’s long political and trade relationship with Britain (which continue in the new globalized economy), English has been an important part of Bahrain’s economic survival. As a result, English is an integral component of the Bahraini education system and is now taught from the first year of schooling. It has also become the medium of instruction in many higher education institutions in the Kingdom. This chapter examines the history of English education in Bahrain, it’s current developments, and what the future landscape of English language policy in Bahrain may resemble. The chapter also offer suggestions on how to address some of the language and policy challenges that Bahrain is facing. Overall, many of the English language policy decisions in Bahrain are showing signs of success in both the K-12 and higher education sectors.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Notes
- 1.
This historical summary depends heavily on Shirawi’s work as the original sources she used were unavailable to the current researchers.
- 2.
It should be noted however, that the Al Hidaya school was the first school opened by Bahrainis for Bahrainis.
References
Abou-El-Kheir, A. (2014). A phenomenological study of qatari student experiences of identities, languages and academic achievement. Doctoral thesis. King’s College London. Retrieved from https://kclpure.kcl.ac.uk/portal/en/theses/a-phenomenological-study-of-qatari-student-experiences-of-identities-languages-and-academic-achievement(d2b6723c-15f8-4260-8d02-eaabe6a54183).html
Abou-El-Kheir, A., & MacLeod, P. (2014). English language profile: Qatar 2014. London/Doha: British Council.
Al-Baharna, H. (1968). Legal status of the Arabian Gulf States: A study of their treaty relations and their international problems. ISBN 0719003326. Retrieved from http://books.google.com.bh/books?id=BH27AAAAIAAJ&lpg=PA74&dq=first%20treaty%20Bahrain&pg=PA31#v=snippet&q=1820%20bahrain&f=false
Al-Issa, A. (2011). Advancing english language teaching research in Gulf cooperation council states universities. Modern Journal of Applied Linguistics, 3(2), 60–76.
Al-Khalili, K. (2008). Quality issues affecting higher education in Bahrain. In C. Davidson & P. M. Smith (Eds.), Higher education in the shaping economies, politics and culture. London: Middle East Institute at SOAS (School of Oriental and African Studies).
Alpen Capital. (2010). GCC education industry. Retrieved from http://www.alpencapital.com/includes/GCC-Education-Industry-Report-September-2010.pdf
Al-Sulaiti, M. A., & Abdul Ghani, N. M. (2001). Development of education in the state of Bahrain. A report submitted to the 46th session of the international conference on education, Geneva. September 5–7. Bahrain Registration No. MED 352. Bahrain Ministry of Education. Manama. Retrieved from http://www.ibe.unesco.org/International/ICE/natrap/BahrainEn.pdf
Al-Tajir, M. A. (1982). Language and linguistic origins in Bahrain: The Barharna Dialect of Arabic. New York: Routledge.
Arab Human Development Report 2003. (2003). Building a knowledge society. United Nations Development Programme. Retrieved from http://www.arab-hdr.org/publications/other/ahdr/ahdr2003e.pdf
Baby, S. (2008, November 04). Education reform projects on the way. Gulf Daily News. Retrieved from http://www.gulf-daily-news.com/NeiwsDetails.aspx?storyid=233610
Baghat, G. (1999). Education in the Gulf Monarchies: Retrospect and prospect. International Review of Education, 45(2), 127–136.
Bahrain Teachers’ College (BTC). (2013). Pre-college foundation. Retrieved from http://www.btc.uob.edu.bh/contents.aspx?id=a44f33cf-f462-e211-b5dd-0022191ecece&gid = 2
Bashshur, M. (2007). Summery (sic) report english. The impact of globalization on higher education and research in the Arab States. UNESCO Forum on Higher Education, Research and Knowledge. Retrieved from http://portal.unesco.org/education/fr/files/54981/11970270255Selected_Proceedings_Arab_2007.pdf/Selected_Proceedings_Arab_2007.pdf
Bishop, P., & Mulford, B. (1999). When will they ever learn? Another failure of centrally-imposed change. School Leadership and Management, 19(2), 179–187.
Briggs, B. (2013, 24 February). SQA’s Shame of SQU contract with Bahrain. The Scotsman. Retrieved from http://www.scotsman.com/news/education/shame-of-sqa-contract-with-brutal-bahrain-1-2807451
Briggs, B. (2013, 24 February). SQA’s Bahrain deal angers human rights campaigners. The Scotsman. Retrieved from http://www.scotsman.com/news/education/sqa-s-bahrain-deal-angers-human-rights-campaigners-1-2807490
Charise, A. (2007). More English, Less Islam? An overview of English language functions in the Arabian/Persian Gulf. Graduate Department of English, University of Toronto. Retrieved from http://homes.chass.utoronto.ca/~cpercy/courses/eng6365-charise.htm
Chughtai, S. (2004, June 20). The role of language in Arab reforms. Al Jazeera. Retrieved from http://greenhouse.economics.utah.edu/pipermail/rad-green/2004-June/014747.html
Commins, D. (2012). The Gulf States: A modern history. London: I.B. Tauris. Deloitte (2013, November). Education–Middle East public sector: National necessities. Retrieved from https://www.deloitte.com/assets/Dcom-MiddleEast/Local%20Assets/Documents/Industries/Public%20sector/me_ps_education_6112013.pdf
Deloitte. (2013, November). Education– Middle East public sector: National necessities. Retrieved from: https://www.deloitte.com/assets/Dcom- MiddleEast/Local%20Assets/Documents/Industries/Public%20sector/me_ps_education_6112013.pdf
Diboll, M. (2012a). Hard lessons in Bahrain. The chronicle of higher education. April 8. Reproduced in Hard Lessons in Bahrain: Mike Diboll in the Chronicle of Higher Education, Dr Mike Diboll. Retrieved from https://mikediboll.wordpress.com/2012/04/08/hard-lessons-in-bahrain-mike-diboll-in-the-chronicle-of-higher-education/
Diboll, M. (2012b). Open letter addressed to Timothy O’Shea and Peter McColl, reproduced in Former University of Bahrain academic condemns Edinburgh deal. Bahrain Justice and Development Movement. Retrieved from http://bahrainjdm.hopto.org/2012/01/13/former-university-of-bahrain-academic-condemns-edinburgh-deal/
Dou, L., & Knight, J. (2014). Emerging hubs: South Korea, Sri Lanka, Mauritius, and Bahrain. In J. Knight (Ed.), International education hubs: Student, talent, knowledge-innovation models. Dordrecht: Springer.
Education Expenditures. World Factbook. Retrieved from https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2206rank.html
Faour, M. (2011). The importance of education in the Arab world. Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Retrieved from http://carnegieendowment.org/2011/12/01/importance-of-education-in-arab-world/7ycd
G-Mrabet, J. (2010). Western education in the Arabian Gulf: The costs and benefits of reform. Middle East Institute Viewpoints: Higher Education and the Middle East. Retrieved from http://www.mei.edu/content/western-education-arabian-gulf-costs-and-benefits-reform
Global Edge. Michigan State University. (2014). Bahrain History. Retrieved from http://globaledge.msu.edu/countries/bahrain/history
Griffiths, D., & Maraghi, F. (2011). Taking the lead: Innovation and higher education Institutions in Bahrain. 10th international entrepreneurship forum, Tamkeen, Ministry of Education, Kingdom of Bahrain. Retrieved from http://www.academia.edu/394258/Taking_the_lead_Innovation_and_Higher_Education_Institutions_in_Bahrain
Hamzah, R. (2013). Spearheading higher education development in Bahrain. QS Showcase-AMEA 2013.
Haslam, I. R. (2011). Educational standards and reform in the UAE and Bahrain. In Education in the UAE: Current status and future developments (pp. 125–146). Abu Dhabi: Emirates Centre for Strategic Studies and Research.
Holes, C. D. (2011). Language and identity in the Arabian Gulf. Journal of Arabian Studies: Arabia, the Gulf, and the Red Sea, 1(2), 129–145.
Hvidt, M. (2013). Economic diversification in GCC countries: Past record and future trends. Kuwait Programme on Development, Governance and Globalisation in the Gulf States 27. London School of Economics and Political Science, London. Retrieved from http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/55252/
Kapiszewski, A. (2000). Population, labour and education dilemmas facing GCC States at the turn of the century. In Proceedings from TEND 2000: Technological education and national development. Abu Dhabi. Retrieved from http://crm.hct.ac.ae/events/archive/tend/AndKP.html
Karolak, M. (2012). Bahrain’s tertiary education reform: a step toward sustainable economic development. Revue des mondes musulmans et de la Mediterranee, 131, 163–181. Retrieved from http://remmm.revues.org/7665
Kingdom of Bahrain. Ministry of Education. (n.d.). History. Retrieved from http://www.moe.gov.bh/en/history/Index.aspx#.UzdBjJWKDIV
Kingdom of Bahrain. Ministry of Education. (2008). The development of education, national report of the Kingdom of Bahrain: Inclusive education the way of the future. Retrieved from http://www.ibe.unesco.org/National_Reports/ICE_2008/bahrain_NR08.pdf
Kingdom of Bahrain. Ministry of Education. (2009). Educational statistics 2008–2009. Retrieved from http://www.moe.gov.bh/archive/statistics/2008/st_class_gov.pdf
Kingdom of Bahrain. Ministry of Education. (2012). High level analysis of higher education and future needs of Bahrain. Retrieved from http://moedu.gov.bh/hec/UploadFiles/Reports/Future%20Needs-HE.pdf
Kirk, D. J. (2014). The “Singapore of the Middle East”: The role and attractiveness of the Singapore model and TIMSS on education policy and borrowing in the Kingdom of Bahrain. In A. W. Wiseman, N. H. Alromi, & S. Alshumrani (Eds.), Education for a knowledge society in Arabian Gulf Countries (International perspectives on education and society, Vol. 24, pp. 127–149). Bingley: Emerald Group Publishing Limited.
Madany, I. M., Ali, S. M., & Akhter, M. S. (1988). Note on the expansion of higher education in Bahrain. Higher Education, 17, 411–415.
Martin, M. (2007). The cross-border challenge of higher education: Comparing experiences. In M. Martin (Ed.), Cross-border higher education: Regulation, quality assurance and impact. Retrieved from http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0015/001538/153897e.pdf
McGlennon, D. (2006). Building research capacity in the Gulf cooperation council countries: Strategy, funding and engagement. Paper presented at the UNESCO colloquium on research and higher education policy, Paris, France. Retrieved from http://portal.unesco.org/education/en/files/51665/11634953625McGlennon-EN.pdf/McGlennon-EN.pdf
MESA. (n.d., A). Letters on Bahrain. Middle East Studies Association of North America (MESA). Retrieved from http://www.mesa.arizona.edu/committees/academic-freedom/intervention/letters-bahrain.html
MESA. (n.d. B). Faculty, students, and staff of Bahraini institutions of higher education. MESA Academic Freedom Award. Middle East Studies Association of North America (MESA). Retrieved from http://www.mesa.arizona.edu/awards/mesa-academic-freedom.html
Pandya, S. (2006). Muslim women’s changing religious practices in bahrain: The impact of modern education. (Order No. 3226272, University of California, Santa Barbara). ProQuest Dissertations and Theses, 221-221 p. Retrieved from http://ezproxy.lib.ucalgary.ca/login?url=http://search.proquest.com/docview/305347960?accountid=9838. (305347960).
Quality Assurance Authority for Education & Training. (2010, November 21–25). Higher education review unit, Institutional Review Report, University of Bahrain. Retrieved from http://en.qaa.edu.bh/UsersFiles/HERU/HERU%20english//IRRUoBENS.pdf
Quality Assurance Authority for Education & Training. (2012). Education for a better future. Annual Report.
Reilly, B. (2010). Liberal education in the Middle East. Higher education and the Middle East: Serving the knowledge-based economy. Middle East Institute. http://www.mei.edu/sites/default/files/publications/Education%20VP.pdf
Rixon, S. (2013). British council survey of policy and practice in primary english language teaching worldwide. British Council. Retrieved from http://englishagenda.britishcouncil.org/sites/ec/files/D120%20Survey%20of%20Teachers%20to%20YLs_FINAL_Med_res_online.pdf
Romanowski, M. H., Cherif, M., Al Ammari, B., & Al Attiyah, A. (2013). Qatar’s educational reform: The experiences and perceptions of principals, teachers and parents. International Journal of Education 5(3), 108–131. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.5296/ije.v5i3.3995
Rugh, W. A. (2002). Arab education: Tradition, growth, and reform. The Middle East Journal, 56(3), 396–414.
Secretariat General of the Higher Education Council. (n.d.) Higher education council. Kingdom of Bahrain, Ministry of Education. Retrieved from http://moedu.gov.bh/hec/default.aspx?lang=en
Shirawi, M. A. (1987). Education in Bahrain – 1919–1986: An analytical study of problems and Progress. Durham theses, Durham University. Retrieved from Durham E-Theses Online: http://etheses.dur.ac.uk/6662/
Tétreault, M. A. (2011). Soft power goes abroad: The transplant university as western outpost in the Arab Gulf States. In K. L. Kleypas & J. I. McDougall (Eds.), The American-style university at large. Transplants, outposts, and the globalization of higher education. Lanham: Lexington Books.
The Crown Prince’s International Scholarship Program. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.cpisp.bh/Default.aspx
The Economic Vision 2030 for Bahrain. (n.d.). From regional Pioneer to global Contender. Retrieved from http://www.evisa.gov.bh/Vision2030Englishlowresolution.pdf
The report: Bahrain 2010. (2010). Oxford: Oxford Business Group. ISBN 1907065229.
Toumi, H. (2011, November 28). Education ministry adamant to extend high school day: Bahrain’s education minister has rejected parents’ complaints about a decision to extend the high school day by 45 minutes. Gulf News. Retrieved from http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/bahrain/education-ministry-adamant-to-extend-high-school-day-1.939058
United States. Central Intelligence Agency. (2013). CIA Factbook, Bahrain. Retrieved from https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/print/country/countrypdf_ba.pdf
United States. Department of State. (1996). Background notes: Bahrain. Retrieved from http://www.state.gov/www/background_notes/bahrain_1096_bgn.html
Wilkins, S. (2011). Who benefits from foreign universities in the Arab Gulf States? Australian Universities Review, 53(1), 73–83.
World Bank. (2008). The road not traveled: Education reform in the Middle East and Africa. MENA Development Report. Washington, DC: The World Bank. Retrieved from http://siteresources.worldbank.org/INTMENA/Resources/EDU_Flagship_Full_ENG.pdf
World Economic Forum. (2006). Global competitiveness report 2006/07.
Zakharia, S. (2007). Beyond the oil boom: Challenges in education and innovation. Retrieved from http://www.weforum.org/pdf/Global_Competitiveness_Reports/Profiles/Bahrain.pdf
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2017 Springer International Publishing AG
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Abou-El-Kheir, A., MacLeod, P. (2017). English Education Policy in Bahrain – A Review of K-12 and Higher Education Language Policy in Bahrain. In: Kirkpatrick, R. (eds) English Language Education Policy in the Middle East and North Africa. Language Policy, vol 13. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-46778-8_2
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-46778-8_2
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-319-46776-4
Online ISBN: 978-3-319-46778-8
eBook Packages: EducationEducation (R0)