New Draft Law Aims to Fill Private School Classrooms With Qualified Bahraini Teachers

Gulf Insider

04-05-2025

Two draft laws will go before the Shura Council today, one aiming to steer more Bahrainis into teaching jobs at private schools, the other to let civil societies put idle funds into safer investments.
The first would require private schools and training centres to give preference to qualified Bahraini candidates when hiring.
With growing numbers of graduates unable to find work in public schools, which say they have run out of space to take them on, lawmakers are looking to the private sector to help fill the gap.
The Services Committee said the aim is to give legal weight to hiring practices that already exist in policy.
At the moment, such efforts depend on ministerial rulings, which may change or be read differently over time.
Priority
By setting the priority in law, the rule becomes fixed and enforceable. The proposal is framed as a way to offer stable, suitable work to citizens whose qualifications match the teaching sector.
It would give jobseekers a clearer path into paid work that matches their field and offers some security.
It would also support an education sector seen as useful to both society and the economy.
Support schemes
Schools and institutes would still have full say over hiring, but would be required to favour qualified Bahrainis, especially with support schemes in place to ease the cost of training and wages. The measure would be added to Decree-Law Number 25 of 1998, which governs private educational and training institutions.
The Legislative and Legal Opinion Commission backed the proposal, pointing to the state's limited capacity to take in more teachers.
Also on the agenda is a draft amendment to the law governing clubs, associations and private institutions.
Speculation
At present, Article 18 of Decree-Law Number 21 of 1989 blocks these groups from investing their money, out of concern for risky speculation.
The committee said that approach has proved too strict, leaving civil societies unable to make use of surplus funds even in safe, low-return investments.
The proposed law would still bar high-risk dealings but would allow cautious investment, as long as it stays within Bahrain and only involves money not needed for daily operations.
Misuse
The proposal lays out terms to guard against misuse.
Investments must be made in low-risk financial products, must involve only surplus funds, and must stay within the domestic market.
The goal is to allow civil societies to earn steady returns without putting assets at risk.
The committee said this would help groups manage their funds with care, support their aims, and reduce their dependence on outside help.