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The Education Ministry will look into a plea by more than 700 people who have called for cancellation of the International Baccalaureate (IB) examinations in Bahrain.
A Change.org petition – that has gathered close to 750 signatures until yesterday – claimed that the quality of education has diminished over the past year as classes are being held virtually.
The petitioners also said they feared for students’ safety owing to the spread of a new and more infectious Covid-19 variant that has led to more cases across the globe.
The Education Ministry has responded saying that they would contact schools to discuss the examinations.
“The ministry is currently studying options available regarding the international examinations and will direct private schools in the coming days in this regard,” a statement said.
According to the petition, IB has offered a dual route for the May 2021 examinations and countries will be given the option to choose their format. They can allow for external examinations to take place or offer the diploma following an internal assessment at the respective schools.
“The Ministry of Education is urged not to allow for IB external exams to take place in Bahrain,” the petition said.
“Tests for a programme, studied virtually for almost two years, are unfair to the academic capabilities of the students.
“They are also forced to risk their health and that of their family by sitting for an exam in order to get the diploma.”
A student representative urged the ministry to rethink their stand on the external IB examinations as scores of students – who are largely under 18 and thus cannot be vaccinated – will be required to sit in a hall for a minimum of two hours a day to receive their diploma.
When contacted by the GDN, the IB said the schools have to make the decisions themselves with the appropriate government regulators to identify the best path forward.
“On February 4, the IB announced a dual route to the May 2021 assessments; this was undertaken after extensive consultation with our global IB community, including a survey of all IB schools,” said the IB statement.
The GDN earlier reported that Bahrain had decided to extend Covid-19 curbs for three more weeks. In-person learning across all nurseries, public and private schools as well as higher education institutes and universities has been suspended until March 14.
PRORITY
Meanwhile, Bahrain Bayan School told the GDN that their utmost priority is the welfare of students.
“Earlier this year, we asked for the non-exam route as we strongly prefer having the IA grades taken instead of having the students sit the exam,” the school’s executive management said in a statement.
“Nevertheless, due to a few schools in Bahrain opting for the exam route, the IB announced that students in Bahrain will be sitting the exams.
“An official letter was sent appealing their decision and we are awaiting their response.
“Our under-18 student population have not taken the vaccine and this could put them, as well as teachers and proctors, at risk.
“In addition, we do not have sufficient physical space to accommodate the large number of students who will be taking the exam whilst ensuring social distancing measures are in place.”
The GDN also reached out to St Christopher’s School, Ibn Khuldoon National School and Riffa Views International School for a comment on the matter, but received no response.
ghazi@gdn.com.bh
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