In-person attendance must for vocational training: Bahrain minister

TDT | Manama                                                            

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Classes at vocational training institutions affiliated with the Ministry of Labour will be strictly in-person as the number of COVID-19 cases declines and the government eases pandemic-related restrictions.

The announcement also follows a recent order by the Higher Education Council making it mandatory for students to attend classes in person in the 2022-23 academic year in all higher education institutions in Bahrain.

In the circular released yesterday, Jameel Humaidan, the Minister of Labour, orders all licenced institutions in the Kingdom to conduct training activities in person. In-person attendance, the circular says, is necessary for strengthening training and achieving its objectives.

The members of the administrative and training bodies in the institutions are obliged to be present at the institution during official working hours, the circular says. The circular also urges trainees to ensure their presence during theoretical and practical classes, which include assessments, examinations and on-the-job training.

The order requires training institutions to stick to the specified absorptive capacity and not to exceed it, considering the availability of health facilities and rest areas for trainees and their compatibility with specific health standards.

The circular also warns of penalties for non-compliance with any training institutions. The circular, however, excludes training programmes that have basic requirements for remote training.

The minister also confirms that the new circular is for programmes shifted to online platforms amid the repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic.

On Thursday, Bahrain reported zero COVID-19 deaths, with 454 new cases and 4,014 active cases. Total COVID-19 deaths, on Friday, stand at 1,511.