The government of Bahrain has taken a firm stance against a proposal put forward by several members of the House of Representatives to maintain the existing subsidised tuition fee system for the University of Bahrain, even for students repeating courses. The proposal, which was introduced by MPs in February 2023, sought to continue a system that was established by a royal decree in 2001. However, the government has rejected this proposal in favour of a new tuition fee policy that was implemented in the 2022-2023 academic year.
The new policy aims to maximise the benefit of government subsidies and ensure fairness in the distribution of funds. Under this policy, Bahraini students and children of Bahraini mothers married to non-Bahrainis receive a heavily subsidised rate of 8 Bahraini Dinars (BHD) per credit hour, despite the actual cost being 80 BHD per credit hour. While students repeating a course for the first time will still receive the subsidised rate, those repeating a course multiple times or for GPA improvement will be charged the full 80 BHD per credit hour.
The government argues that providing subsidised tuition without demonstrating academic improvement is a waste of public funds. Therefore, the new policy promotes fairness and efficient resource allocation while aligning with government efforts to enhance academic success and optimise the use of university resources. The government emphasises that the university communicated these changes clearly and transparently to students and their families to avoid any confusion or misunderstandings.
Additionally, the government states that students who fail optional courses have the option to choose an alternative course to avoid paying the full cost. This flexibility allows students to improve their GPA without incurring additional expenses for repeating the original course. The government’s position is aimed at ensuring both fairness in subsidy distribution and encouraging academic progress among students.
Overall, the government’s decision to reject the proposal to maintain the existing subsidised tuition fee system in favour of a new policy reflects its commitment to promoting academic success and efficient resource allocation at the University of Bahrain. By implementing a fair and transparent system that incentivises academic progress, the government aims to support Bahraini citizens and enable university students to complete their studies successfully.
