The achievements of the Kingdom’s female scholars has been highlighted in a new book released by the Supreme Council for Women (SCW).
The tome, titled Bahraini Women and Education, was compiled based on His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa’s directives on the need to document Bahraini women’s march since the beginning of official education in Bahrain.
It is hoped that the book will help to shed light on women’s contributions to the development of education in the Kingdom.
Her Royal Highness Princess Sabeeka bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa, wife of HM the King and SCW president, presented HM the King with a copy of the book, in the presence of the SCW members, at the Al-Sakhir Palace recently.
The 100-page book, including an introduction and four chapters, documents women’s contributions to education in Bahrain since the beginning of their public education as early as 1928. It documents the history of more than nine decades of education, highlighting how the Kingdom was to first Gulf Cooperation Council country to provide government-funded education for girls.
It also highlights the huge strides made by Bahraini women since HM the King’s accession in 1999 and the launch of the Royal Reform Project.
According to government figures, Bahrain has the highest female literacy rate, 93.5 per cent, in the Arabian Peninsula. Furthermore, of the 25.2 per cent of Bahrainis who go on to post-secondary education, the majority are women.
