04 September 2018
H.E Shaikha Mai Visits a Number of Historical Education Buildings,H.E : These buildings have become a symbol of Bahrain’s history more than just architectural heritage
As part of Bahrain Authority for Culture & Antiquities’ strategy to safeguard and preserve the historical buildings, H.E Shaikha Mai bint Mohammed Al-Khalifa, BACA’s President, has paid a field visit to a number of historic educational buildings in Bahrain (Mariam Bint Omran Primary Girls School and Omer Bin Al Khattab Primary Intermediate Boys School), on 3 September 2018. H.E Shaikha Mai was welcomed by officials representing the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning.
The meeting discussed the importance of preserving these historical education institution buildings, given their crucial role in enhancing the formal public education in Bahrain. The tour included the Mariam bint Omran Primary School for Girls, Oman ibn Al-Khattab Primary and Intermediate School for Boys, which were constructed respectively in 1948 and 1954. H.E stressed the importance of revamping the two iconic schools and preserve them so that they could regain their role and provide an adequate educational environment. H.E Shaikha Mai underlined the need to conserve the architectural features of the two decades-old schools to stand as a testament to the vital role in spearheading the development of the educational system in Bahrain amid preparations to celebrate next year the centennial of formal education in the Kingdom. H.E said “ Formal education buildings’ architecture has its exceptional beauty standards; preserving this universal heritage goes hand in hand with continuing its pioneer role as a key element in Bahrain’s educational development”. H.E Shaikha Mai bint Mohammed Al-Khalifa has pointed out that “ we should never try to erase all previous national achievements in any filed, but rather we ought to shed lights on their importance, given that these two schools stand as a living memory examples of formal education in the Kingdom of Bahrain. Next year we will celebrate the centennial of formal education in the Kingdom, therefore the culture tools available to us today are embodied in our behaviour and how to best preserve this heritage. Education buildings are not a mere architecture feature, but rather a nest and a citadel that showed the way to many generations, a long history and a bright future paving the way for many world famous great figures who take pride in being born in our beloved kingdom”.
Officials representing the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning, for their parts, stressed the importance of rehabilitating these historical buildings, pointing out to the exemplary architectural, educational , social and interactive model of Bahraini schools. Thy added that that this model provides real opportunities for interactive knowledge and sciences. They also lauded the efforts of Bahrain Authority for Culture & Antiquities to safeguard heritage and history of Bahrain in all aspects of life, including education, through culture.
