Uproar over remark on Expat teachers

A SENIOR MP yesterday claimed that expatriates were “unfit” to become teachers, causing an uproar on social media.

Parliament first vice-chairman Abdulnabi Salman alleged “expatriate housemaids” were being recruited as teachers in private schools just because their spouses were working in Bahrain.

He shouted during the chamber’s weekly session yesterday that these teachers neither had the qualifications nor credentials to teach children.

“They are not competent enough and everyone knows it,” he said.

Mr Salman’s remarks came as MPs debated and approved amendments to the 1998 Private Educational and Training Establishments Law that would prioritise jobs for Bahrainis in private schools and institutes.

The move presented by five MPs, spearheaded by Mamdooh Al Saleh, has been backed by the ministries of Education and Labour and Social Development.

The GDN learned that several private schools, including the Indian School, have sent letters to Parliament backing the move. However, Sacred Heart School has suggested that Bahrainis should be prioritised only for Arabic language courses.

“Let’s be honest, everyone in Bahrain knows that most of the private schools employ expatriate teachers just because their husbands work here. Many of them lack the qualification or credentials,” he said.

“Honestly, some of the teachers don’t even know the basics of the English language.

“There are Bahrainis, both men and women, who speak up to three languages and we have CVs if the Education Ministry wants to recruit them in private schools.”

Mr Salman claimed that he knew cases of qualified Bahrainis who were offered jobs as janitors in private educational institutions.

“The ministry checks the credentials of Bahraini graduates, but not that of expatriates – at least some of whom are here in Bahrain to work as housemaids. They become teachers out of nowhere.

“Stop cheating us. Is the government serious?” he asked Parliament and Shura Council Minister Ghanim Al Buainain.

He also claimed that a private school had said in writing that there were no qualified Bahrainis to take up jobs there.

Mr Salman was asked by Parliament Speaker Fouzia Zainal to direct the comments to her.

Higher Education Council secretary general Dr Abdulghani Al Showaikh said the ministry has been giving Bahrainis top priority for employment. However, he was cut short by MP Mohammed Al Abbasi who claimed the ministry had the highest number of expat teachers and that’s why the private sector was not convinced with the move.

The amendments will now be drafted as a law by the government within six months and returned to the National Assembly.

mohammed@gdn.com.bh

Source : Gdnonline

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