instilling the concepts of respecting human rights and fundamental freedoms, thereby enabling the
individual to make a contribution through an effective and beneficial role in a free society.
2. The Constitution of Bahrain guarantees the right to education in Article (7) thereof, which states:
“a. The State sponsors the sciences, humanities and the arts, and encourages scientific research. The
State also guarantees educational and cultural services to its citizens. Education is compulsory and
free in the early stages as specified and provided by law. The necessary plan to combat illiteracy
is laid down by law. b. The law regulates care for religious and national instruction in the various
stages and forms of education, and at all stages is concerned to develop the citizen’s personality and
his pride in his Arabism. c. Individuals and bodies may establish private schools and universities
under the supervision of the State and in accordance with the law. d. The State guarantees the
inviolability of the places of learning.”
3. At the level of the national legislation of the Kingdom of Bahrain, Law Number (27) of 2005
concerning education guarantees education to all the citizens and residents all at once, while
explaining the general goals of the law, and defining the foremost responsibilities of the concerned
ministries represented in formulating the educational plans and programs to advance forward the
educational system in the Kingdom, in addition to preparing study plans (curricula), encouraging
private education, laying down the general policy for allocating scholarships in a fair and just
manner, define the role played by the Ministry in educating adults and endeavour to eliminate
ignorance and illiteracy from society, while devoting utmost attention to religious, Arabic language
and national education. Moreover, Law Number (3) of 2005 concerning higher education addressed
the goals which higher education seeks to achieve through its institutions, and the legal obligations
to be shouldered by those institutions.
4. Moreover, the provisions of Decree-Law Number (25) of 1998 concerning private educational and
training institutions, emerged to regulate all the matters related to the activity of private educational
institutions, and related to the necessary conditions for establishing those institutions, the purposes
upon which are founded the private educational institutions, and the financial system with which
those institutions must comply, while setting forth the type of academic system adopted by them,
determining the mechanism of technical supervision, and the administrative supervision of the
special educational and training institutions.
5. At the level of the institutional structure governing the right to education, the Higher Education
Council was established in accordance with Law Number (3) of 2005, which laid down the desired
goals of the higher education institutions, while defining the jurisdictions and competences assigned
to it in terms of preparing the general policy for higher education in the Kingdom, and considering
the difficulties it faces, while proposing the means of addressing them, without being oblivious of
the authority of the Council in overseeing the higher education institutions and supervising their
programs and auxiliary services.
6. For purposes of advancing the quality of education and training in the Kingdom, the provisions
of Decree Number (32) of 2008 establishing and regulating the Quality Assurance Authority for
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