Evolutionary process: Higher-Education Reform in Bahrain

Why is everyone is playing the blame-game, trying to figure out whether the current higher-education mess is the fault of private universities or lack of government regulation and standards for them?

The simple answer is that here in Bahrain, as well as anywhere else in the Arab World, it is much easier for us to blame someone else than to fix the problem. Everyone wants part of the glory, but when the shit hits the fan, no one will claim responsibility.

I must admit, that when this situation began, I played my own part in this blame-game, sometimes blaming the Ministry of Education (MoE), but mostly blaming private universities for their greed and lack of ethical and moral standards.

I remain convinced that private universities are the ones with the most blood on their hands. However, I am also convinced that behind all this will be a positive outcome and at the end of the day, this education mess is good for Bahrain.

True, it might have damaged the reputation of Bahrain’s education system. True, it has screwed over students, both current and past, but only in the short-run.

Education reform, or any reform in Bahrain for that matter, is an evolutionary process. That is partly due to our transition from developing country to developed country, although we still have a lot of developing to do before we reach our end goal.

Be optimistic. Just like any other evolutionary process, the fit will survive and the weak will be swept away. In the end, Bahrain will have a better regulated private higher-education system with only the best of the private institutions offering over-valued degrees.

On Bullshit

I have not posted any new enteries for a while. That was due partly to my vacation abroad. However, I also felt an overwhelming lack of interest in providing any commentary. For sometime , I was convinced that whatever I post on this website is a personal opinion and shouldn’t be forced upon others. I guess that opinion was formulated by my frustration with the Bahraini press (who specialize in bullshit). But all has changed now. All bullshit aside, lets talk about things and opinions that matter!