BCCI probes education, training prospects

TDT | Manama

Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) held yesterday a webinar themed “Training and Corporate Prosperity”. The webinar centred on three main topics: the role of training institutes in enhancing corporate prosperity, the impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, and the main challenges in the post-pandemic period.

BCCI board member and education committee head Dr Waheeb Al Khaja commended the government on extending the economic support package, and reinstated the fundamental role of academic and vocational training institutions in economic development.

He highlighted the integrated nature of the sector with all sectors of the economy, and the importance of upgrading it to meet the needs of the market and keep abreast of the fastpaced economic changes. Similarly, BCCI board member MP Ahmed Al Saloom gave an overview of the efforts exerted by the government to ensure the sustainability of the sector during the pandemic, and also exhibited legislation and proposals that aim at empowering the sector.

He revealed that 450,000 jobs are occupied by expatriates, and the need to train locals to become more competitive in the labour market. He also stressed on the importance of collaboration between training institutes and the business community so as to create programmes that match the community’s aspirations and needs.

Al Saloom reinstated the keenness of the parliament in empowering the private sector, in translation to Bahrain’s economic vision 2030. From his side, education committee member and Bahrain Society of Private Training Institutes board of director chairman Nawaf Al Jeshi revealed that the total number of training institutes in Bahrain is 95, most of which are struggling as a result of the pandemic.

He stressed on the need to upgrade these institutes and reinforce fair competition in the sector. The participants made a number of proposals to reinforce the education and training sector in Bahrain, including the importance of expanding training programmes and targetting entrepreneurs, the importance of diversifying the resources and operations of training institutes, enhancing collaboration between the institutes and the business community, and upgrading the quality of programmes offered.