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American School of Bahrain Celebrates Second Graduation Ceremony - Middle East Business News and Information

American School of Bahrain Celebrates Second Graduation Ceremony - Middle East Business News and Information

Mid East Info02-06-2025
The American School of Bahrain (ASB) recently held the graduation ceremony of its second cohort of students for the 2024-2025 academic year. The event was attended by H.E. Ms. Nawal Ibrahim Al Khater, Undersecretary at the Ministry of Education, along with school officials, parents of the graduates, and a host of guests.
ASB's Director Dave McMaster, remarked, 'The graduates of this class embody our vision of developing a generation that is aware, skilled, and ready to lead positive change for a better tomorrow. We are proud to be part of the remarkable educational landscape of Bahrain, strengthened by the patronage of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, and the consistent support of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Prime Minister. This support has allowed us to deliver an education that meets the highest global standards.'
Dr. Juan Saavedra, Middle and High School Principal, also shared his pride in the students, saying: 'Today is not just a conclusion; it's the start of a promising future. Our students have shown their strength and talent in all areas, and we are sure they will continue to excel and enrich the world around them. We deeply appreciate the Ministry of Education for its dedicated support of private schools, in line with its commitment to public education.'
Established in 2020, ASB offers a comprehensive American and international educational program, alongside the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme. The school emphasizes academic excellence, innovation, global-mindedness, and community leadership. It was recently awarded an 'Outstanding' rating by Bahrain's Education and Training Quality Authority (BQA), the highest rating a school can achieve.
Several distinguished students were recognized for their achievements during the ceremony, and the event was filled with an air of pride and happiness as each graduate marked this significant milestone in their journey.
About the American School of Bahrain:
American School of Bahrain offers a holistic and challenging American and international educational program founded on the pillars of academic excellence, happiness, innovation, international mindedness, balance, community leadership, and cultural respect. ASB was awarded an 'Outstanding' rating by Bahrain's Education and Training Quality Authority (BQA), the highest distinction granted by the national regulator – recognizing the school's distinction in leadership, training and student achievement.
With experienced leadership, dedicated and caring educators, and state-of-the-art facilities, ASB inspires students to pursue their passions and become lifelong learners. As an Esol Education school, ASB is part of a family of exceptional international schools around the world in locations such as Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Hong Kong, Cairo, Nicosia, and Lebanon.
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StuDIYo Lab Launches TinkerShed Crate to drive skill-based learning in the UAE - Middle East Business News and Information
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Mid East Info

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  • Mid East Info

StuDIYo Lab Launches TinkerShed Crate to drive skill-based learning in the UAE - Middle East Business News and Information

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Designing a Riyadh That Doesn't Grow Old
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time03-08-2025

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Designing a Riyadh That Doesn't Grow Old

In the 1930s, American industrialist Henry Ford set out to build a perfect city in the middle of the Amazon. It was called Fordlândia, an attempt to create a rubber-producing town that would mirror American values, complete with tidy houses, paved roads, and hamburgers in the canteen. But the forest resisted. The soil wasn't suited to rubber trees, the workers clashed with imported rules, and the town quickly fell apart. Fordlândia became a cautionary tale: a city designed without understanding its people or its place. Decades later, Brazil tried again in the same region, this time with better maps and modern ideals. But the result was much the same. Urban planning, it turns out, isn't just about roads, grids and buildings. It's about understanding how people live, what they need and how communities grow over time. So, whether in the jungles of Brazil or the deserts of Arabia, the question persists: are we building for people, or are we drawing lines on paper? 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Kindergarten classes in mosques - Egypt - Al-Ahram Weekly
Kindergarten classes in mosques - Egypt - Al-Ahram Weekly

Al-Ahram Weekly

time31-07-2025

  • Al-Ahram Weekly

Kindergarten classes in mosques - Egypt - Al-Ahram Weekly

A cooperation protocol was signed last week between Minister of Endowments Osama Al-Azhari and Minister of Education and Technical Education Mohamed Abdel-Latif to open kindergartens in mosques. The service targets children before the age of compulsory education, according to a statement issued by the two ministries. Osama Raslan, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Endowments, told Al-Ahram Weekly that the protocol is scheduled to be implemented immediately on a pilot basis in Qena governorate in preparation for a nationwide rollout after an evaluation by the end of this summer. He noted that daily evaluations will take place, emphasising that all those involved in the educational process are education graduates who have studied educational psychology and are committed to a curriculum implemented by the Ministry of Education, incorporating ethics and behaviours. Raslan added that Ministry of Education teachers will be assigned to receive children in morning shifts at mosques, which run from 8am to 1pm. They are also responsible for equipping mosque annexes with appropriate educational tools and enhancing mosque courtyards with games, ensuring a blend of education and recreation for children. Raslan emphasised that only one mosque in each village will receive children aged four to six, and that it must have an annex, where mourning events and wedding ceremonies are held and which are commonly known as event halls. This is to make clear that children will not attend classes within the mosque area designated for prayer. According to Raslan, this protocol aims to make good use of the two ministries' capabilities to achieve the goals of building an authentic Egyptian character, fostering a love of reading and learning, and connecting generations to their cultural and civilisational heritage. 'We need to exploit under-utilised assets,' said Raslan. In response to some objections that this should not be done in mosques and that it is better to do it in schools, Raslan clarified that school buildings are busy throughout the year and when there are no classes, school grounds need to be maintained for the next academic year. He asserted that according to the protocol, kindergarten classes are free for all segments of the Egyptian population, and that accepting Christian children into the nurseries is not prohibited. This is to reassure citizens that the protocol serves all Egyptians without exception. He adds that limiting it to Muslims is a violation of the Egyptian constitution and heritage. Mona Ahmed, a kindergarten teacher for more than 25 years, told the Weekly that the idea is excellent because it prevents children from sitting in front of TV and mobile screens all day. It will also provide a useful educational and moral dose for a large part of the day. Based on her long experience, Ahmed said private nurseries are currently very expensive, which prevents many parents from enrolling their children. She adds that the kindergarten curriculum focuses on teaching the basics of reading and writing in the Arabic language and teaching linguistics such as demonstrative pronouns, singular and plural, in addition to the principles of arithmetic and exploration. 'The idea is excellent,' Ahmed said. 'It will help them to prepare well for the primary stage.' * A version of this article appears in print in the 6 August, 2025 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:

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