For higher studies, Bahrain an option

It has generally been considered the norm for many expatriate families to send their children back to their home countries after high school in pursuit of higher education for a myriad of reasons.
Be it to broaden the options available to their children or simply to provide them with the best international experience possible, expatriates, particularly those in Riyadh and Jeddah, have looked abroad for the answer to their children’s university woes.
For many expatriates living in the Eastern Province though, the proximity to Bahrain is a blessing. With just an estimated driving time of an hour between the two countries, more and more parents in Dammam, Alkhobar and Dhahran now choose to send their children, particularly their daughters, to Bahrain for higher education.
Boasting top international institutes like AMA International University, New York Institute of Technology and DePaul University, as well as renowned local universities such as the University of Bahrain and the Gulf University, Bahrain is now a decent option for students who want to stay close to home without compromising on the quality of education or the degree they hope to pursue.
According to Hamza Abbasi, an entrepreneurship student at AMA University, the advantages of studying in Bahrain far outweigh the problem of commuting.
“I run a business here in the Kingdom and so am able to work while traveling back and forth to complete my MBA. Being at home with my parents while studying is a major plus for me,” he said. “I completed my undergraduate from the UK and not having to leave again for my master’s degree is a relief.”
Moreover, for many Indian and Pakistani families, having their daughters living alone at university dorms back home is a cause for worry which is why students like Seerat Gill choose to stay here.
“My mother would have worried constantly had I chosen to go back to India for my bachelor’s degree and this is why I decided to stay at home,” she said. “Bahrain has some very good institutes now and as long as my education is not affected, I am happy staying back even if it is more expensive. After all, I get the comfort of home and the best of both worlds.”
However, where there are obvious advantages like the comfort of being home and staying in a familiar place, traveling back and forth every day can be extremely exhausting and is a major disincentive for many.
Speaking about the terrible rush on the King Fahd Causeway, Aamenah, a young Pakistani student residing in Dhahran, said: “I attend tuition classes in Bahrain and my timings are very unorthodox (usually from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. and on weekends) so I get the worst of the King Fahd Causeway traffic jam. People are stuck at the border for hours and in such situations, the causeway student ID card has brought great relief in that it allows me to use a separate lane and I can reach my classes on time.”
Furthermore, the recent unrest in the country has also been a key factor in influencing the decision of parents. However, many like Anwaar Hussain believe that much of what is portrayed in the media is exaggerated.
“My daughter studies in Bahrain and so of course, I worry, but on most days there is peace and it is safe to go. Isolated incidents are usually exaggerated in the media. These days there is unrest everywhere including back home in Pakistan and so I can’t let these factors change my decision. I am happy that she is at home and that is what matters,” he said.
Thus, in the bigger picture, most parents and students do believe that the pros of staying in Saudi Arabia for higher education clearly trump the cons and for the residents of the Eastern Province since the added option of studying in Bahrain has proven to provide much needed respite.