With the advent of every new academic season, you wake up in my memory old photos dating back to years; Where the joy of the school was to accompany the father, may God have mercy on him, to buy the requirements of the new academic year; The uniform, the bag, the stationery, and some simple tools, where the options were few, but are sufficient and appropriate and at the costs that were reasonable, and within the reach of most families, even medium and weak than them.
Today, the scene has changed significantly; Although the children are still receiving a return to the study seats with joy and curiosity, this joy has become an anxiety, anticipation and calculations for many families, and they face increasing requirements and escalating prices year after year, while some schools are not satisfied with the basics and what the student may actually need, but the families impose special requests sometimes that exceed their abilities, especially if they have more than one child who is enrolled in education To return to schools from a beautiful and cheerful family occasion to a financially stressful season.
In the midst of this pressure; The initiatives of the Ministry of Industry and Trade came to form a glimmer of hope, as the ministry announced a series of steps to support consumers, citizens and residents, the most prominent of which is the “consumer friend” initiative to return to schools, which allows commercial stores to provide wide discounts on various supplies that include stationery, bags and school fashion, up to electronic devices, glasses and food products.
What draws attention is that this initiative will continue until November 2025, which allows many families more space to take advantage of offers and shopping at relatively reasonable prices, and it gives merchants an opportunity to show their societal commitment in a sensitive circumstance that affects every home in Bahrain.
Despite the importance of these initiatives, the challenge remains existing; The difference between the purchasing power of the families cannot be overlooked, so what some people prepare for a suitable price may be above the energy of others, which makes the role of the oversight implemented by the Ministry of Inspection Department necessary to ensure the fairness of prices and the quality of goods and prevent any exploitation that may exacerbate the suffering of the consumer, and increase its burdens.
In the end, the season of return to schools is not just an educational station, but a mirror that reflects our social and economic reality, and here I must ask the same question; Has education become luxury? Or is it still essential that the state, society and schools should join hands to protect it?
The initiatives of the Ministry of Industry and Trade are a step in the right direction, but they need to be completed by efforts from the educational institutions themselves, government and private, by rationalizing requests and estimating the conditions of families, only then the season of return to schools can return as we have ever entrusted a clear joy that they do not disturb them.
