FOUNDATIONS COMPLETED IN ISA TOWN PRIMARY BOYS SCHOOL PROJECT

Assistant Undersecretary for Construction Projects & Maintenance at the Ministry of Works, Municipalities Affairs & Urban Planning Eng. Mona Al Motawa revealed that the Ministry has completed the foundation works at Isa Town Primary Boys School. Construction works at the school ground floor are presently underway. Also, the sub-power station was also completed.

Al Motawa stated that the Ministry carried out the design and supervision of the project as part of the Gulf Fund Program; funded by the Saudi Development Fund. The BD4,884,672 project was awarded by the Tender Board; fulfilling development requirements in the Kingdom and supporting the provision of sustainable educational needs for all Bahraini citizens. 

According to Al Motawa, a land of an area of 26.460m² was dedicated for the construction of the school, while the total construction area amounted to 16.626m². The 4 storey school building comprises of 35 classrooms, with a capacity to accommodate 1400 students.

The school also includes multi-purpose laboratories for science, computer, home science and the library, in addition to offices for the teaching and administrative faculty, sports hall, other service facilities such as toilets and store rooms.

Al Motawa explained that the new school building is being constructed over the same area of the present school building. Students will be transferred to the new building once it is completed, while the old building will be demolished and the vacant land will be dedicated for the implementation of outdoor fields for football, handball, basketball and volleyball. All procedures have been taken to separate construction works from students’ path and movement in order to ensure their safety and protect them from dangers and noise. New construction works have been separated from the present school building by placing a separation fence and installing warning signs and strips. All works causing noise and inconvenience are implemented after school hours.

The new building has been designed based on the latest MoE’s requirements, which include sustainability, green buildings and energy saving measures; such as thermal insulation for roofs and walls, double-glazing windows to reduce noise, sensor taps in bathrooms, energy saving lighting systems, acoustically insulated vinyl flooring, and paints with low volatile and anti-carbon organic compounds to paint walls internally and externally.

Al Motawa added that all safety and security procedures have been taken in collaboration with the Civil Defense Directorate. The school has been supplied with fire detectors, extinguishers, acoustics and intercom systems, CCTV cameras and all other electrical requirements. The total electrical load for the project is 2300KW; supplied by the new generators room. The school will also be supplied with all mechanical services like water pumps, water tanks, heaters, drinking water coolers, taps and other services. 

The design also takes into account providing all the facilities needed for students and staff with special needs and also pregnant women, such as constructing a special parking lot close to the main school entrance, providing slopes on all entrances, using non-slip vinyl flooring in all rooms, corridors and stairways, in addition to providing 4 elevators close to all entrances and toilets with a size that properly accommodates the needs of those students.

80 Parking spaces will also be provided, 60 of which for the faculty and 20 for visitors and parents, in addition to bus-stops and an air-conditioned waiting area for students.