Big lift for education, training development

TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

The implementation of all projects, initiatives and programmes that will develop education and training is in full swing.

Deputy Prime Minister His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Mubarak Al Khalifa commended this positive development as he chaired the 46th meeting of the Supreme Council for the Development of Education and Training yesterday.

HH Shaikh Mohammed, also president of the Supreme Council for the Development of Education and Training, emphasised that education and training play an essential role in achieving Bahrain’s Economic Vision 2030 and goals to be an educational and training hub.

He said the government, headed by His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, spares no effort in supporting projects, initiatives and programmes to upgrade the education and training sector and continue investing in Bahraini competencies.

Review

The Council reviewed the latest developments in the implementation of the education and training programmes listed on the unified framework of government priorities, noting that 60% of them have been achieved and that two major goals in infrastructure development and e-learning have been completed.

It also reviewed the latest developments in the restructure of the Ministry of Education that includes 17 initiatives to improve its operations and education outputs.

The achievement rate has reached 83%.

The Council discussed the proposal for the national curriculum and national standards that harmonise the educational process and teaching with the requirements of the labour market and make it periodically consistent with the changes in the required job skills.

It reviewed the draft of the 2021 report of the Education and Training Quality Authority, and the proposal for a review date for the authority to obtain recognition from the World Federation for Medical Education.

Results

It also discussed the results of the review of three academic programmes in higher education institutions and decisions to include national qualifications in the National Qualifications Framework.

HH Shaikh Mohammed and the Council congratulated Dr Jawaher Shaheen Al Mudhahki on her appointment by HM the King and commended her efforts during her presidency of the Education and Training Quality Authority and the role of the authority in developing education and training.

The Council also thanked Prof Dr Riyadh Hamza for his efforts during his presidency of the University of Bahrain and the success it achieved during his term, wishing him success.

Proposals

Higher Education Council Secretary General Dr Shaikha Rana bint Isa Al Khalifa presented proposals to review higher education policies and legislation to expand its scope and present options to individuals to move between academic, technical and applied streams and the labour market, expanding lifelong learning and employability.

 Dr Shaikha Rana also presented a proposal to establish a national portal for admission to higher education institutions that would develop mechanisms to boost efficiency and effectiveness, standardise procedures, reduce costs for students in the short term, and align the financing of the higher education sector with the national strategy and long-term labour market needs.

She also put forward a detailed proposal for the implementation and timeframe for the proposed initiatives.

Expansion

Dean of the Bahrain Teachers College Dr Ted Purinton updated the Council on the plan for the expansion of the Btc to achieve the government goals to enable it to meet 80% of the Ministry of Education’s needs of teachers by 2030.

He also briefed the Council on the preparations by the college for the new academic year.