NEWS
The University of Bahrain Commends the Ministry of Education’s Launch of TOEFL and IELTS Preparation Programs
Sakhir – University of Bahrain (Ali Al Sabbaq)
January 5, 2023
The President of the University of Bahrain, Dr. Jawaher bint Shaheen Al-Mudhahka, lauded the Ministry of Education’s decision to launch preparation programs for IELTS and TOEFL exams for all grade 12 students.
Dr. Al-Mudhahka stated, “The decision of the Ministry of Education to prepare grade 12 students for the IELTS and TOEFL exams is a qualitative leap in qualifying and training students to obtain the scores required for enrolling in local and international universities and colleges. This is because the level of English language and communication skills in English are basic criteria for admission to higher education programs locally and internationally. In addition, these preparation programs open huge opportunities for students’ education in the future.”
The university president noted, “The preparation program raises the students’ awareness on the importance of language abilities to continue higher education. In addition, it will improve students’ level in the English language, which would increase their academic achievement in any program they join.” She added, “Many programs offered by the University of Bahrain are taught in English, including engineering, health, science, business administration and information technology.”
The Ministry of Education had developed a plan to implement the preparation programs during the second semester of the academic year 2022/2023, starting with orientation meetings, followed by providing training portfolios to students and teachers. After that, the students will take two tests to evaluate their skills.
The University of Bahrain President concluded, “We at the University of Bahrain highly appreciate this important step, because it is directly related to the realization of the University’s mission, which seeks to prepare students and provide them with the basics and the latest developments of science. This can only be achieved when students master the means of learning which is the English language.”
For her part, the Director of the English Language Center at the University of Bahrain, Dr. Dana Abdullah Abdul Rahim, stressed the importance of this step in preparing students for university study and satisfying one of the key requirements for admission to many higher education institutions.
Dr. Abdul Rahim stated, “IELTS and TOEFL exams provide students with the content that is commensurate with the requirements of the academic English language used in universities. This would help them engage in university life easily.” She noted, “The latest estimates show that more than 60% of university programs are taught in English.”
She mentioned that the English Language Center at the University of Bahrain exempts new students obtaining a score of 500 points in the “TOEFL” exam or 5.5 in the “IELTS” exam from studying the foundation program.
