Gaming the Curriculum
by: BTM - Mon, 13 Apr 2026
Bahrain’s Ministry of Education has introduced Gaming 100, an English-language elective for secondary school students focused on game design, coding and digital production, with rollout across government schools and optional adoption by private institutions.
The Ministry of Education launched Gaming 100 in February as a new elective within government secondary schools. The course is delivered in English and forms part of the national curriculum, with private schools able to implement it in subsequent terms.
More than 1,300 students registered for the course at its launch. The move establishes gaming within the classroom as a defined area of study, aligned with digital and creative sectors.
The curriculum introduces students to the structure of video games, beginning with their historical development and cultural context. It then moves into core concepts including genres, mechanics and player experience, establishing a clear foundation for how games are built and experienced.
Practical components form a central part of the course. Students are introduced to basic coding, design principles and the use of development tools, supporting an understanding of how games move from concept to production within a structured workflow.
A required project forms part of the assessment. Students develop a game from an initial idea through to a playable prototype, applying both technical and design knowledge through planning, building and refinement.
The course also addresses the wider context of gaming. Topics include online behaviour, ethics and the impact of gaming within society.
Career pathways are introduced across areas such as development, design and related roles within the industry.
The programme has been developed by Bahraini specialists. In announcing the initiative, Minister of Education Dr. Mohammed Mubarak Juma described the launch as “the beginning of a new educational phase”. He noted that it aligns with the Kingdom’s “broader strategy to modernise curricula”. He also stated that Bahrain is “the first country in the region – and possibly the world – to introduce such a school course”, adding that they have “ensured copyright protection” for the material.
The initiative forms part of broader curriculum development linked to technology and future skills. As demand grows for capabilities in coding, digital design and interactive media, it provides early exposure to these areas within a structured academic setting.
A follow-on course, Gaming 101, is in development and is expected to introduce more advanced topics, including the use of artificial intelligence in game development.
The addition of gaming as a formal subject reflects a shift in how digital skills are taught within schools. Within the Kingdom of Bahrain, it supports the development of local talent aligned with the country’s evolving digital economy.
