Education and training
Education & Training
Bahrain has been at the vanguard of educational progress within the region, establishing the Gulf’s first public education system in 1919 and giving its female population equal access to the Kingdom’s educational resources. Schooling is free and compulsory for all Bahrainis and the Kingdom boasts an 87% adult literacy rate - among the highest in the region with almost 11% of all government expenditure directed towards education.
Reforms
Education spending accounted for 10.8% of all government spending in 2006. Recent government reforms have included a teacher training program, a new polytechnic college, improvement of the upper-secondary vocational program and a quality assurance initiative which will raise accreditation standards and inspections for the education system and rank the performance of the system through regular national exams. The said reforms have been put in place to avoid a skills crunch further down the line. Over the next decade an additional 100,000 Bahrainis are expected to enter the job market.
A new Quality Assurance Authority for Education and Training (QAA) was launched in February 2009. The QAA will review and assess schools, universities and training institutes, as well as conduct national exams. The body will raise Educational standards within Bahrain.
The QAA operates four monitoring units:
- Schools Review Unit
- Vocational Review Unit
- Higher Education Review Unit
- National Examinations Unit
Tamkeen, Bahrain’s independent authority which formulates strategic and operational plans to enhance the overall prosperity of Bahrain by investing in Bahraini employability and job creation has made a $100 million investment to provide more than 18,000 Bahraini nationals with sector-specific skills training via a four year plan.
Higher Education
As the platform for developing professional capacities and improving the career choices of Bahrainis, higher education takes the lead in providing cutting-edge skills necessary to thrive in an increasing global competitive environment. There are a vast number of specialist colleges offering courses in subjects such as finance, medicine, and IT.
• University of Bahrain
The University of Bahrain plays host to regular business symposia. For example, in December 2008 the University discussed the role and future of Islamic banking. The event is considered to be one of the most prominent and largest student activities in the Kingdom.
• Bahrain Institute of Banking and Finance
The Institute (BIBF) is host to the Centre for Islamic Finance. In January 2009, the centre for Islamic Finance received the CPI Financial Islamic Business and Finance ‘World’s Best Islamic Training Institution Award’ for 2008.
• DePaul University
• New York Institute of Technology
• RCSI-Medical University of Bahrain
• Arab Open University
• Royal University for Women
• Arabian Gulf University
Vocational & Specialized training centers
Vocational institutes prepare youth to enter a workforce with a practical skill related to specific trade. Several institutes in Bahrain have been successful in endowing learners with skills that related to a specific trade, occupation or vocation. Vocational education is available across various industries such as tourism, hotel management, retail and technology.
Leading international and Bahraini schools
Bahrain is served by more than 200 primary and secondary schools including 30 private schools that offer curricula from the UK, US, France, Japan, Pakistan and India.
For a complete list of private schools in Bahrain, click here >
EduTrain@bahrain & Research@bahrain
@bahrain is a unique commercial, educational and entertainment destination that is strategically located on 1 million square meters next to the Bahrain International Circuit (BIC), ‘The Home of Motorsport in the Middle East’. @bahrain provides rich, cutting edge experiences that span 10 interconnected industry sectors: Exhibition & Convention Facility; Hotels; Multi-Purpose Indoor Arena; Lifestyle Plaza incorporating Retail & Leisure and Techtainment; Auto Club and Engineering Facility; Research Institute; Technopark; Light Industry; and Education and Training.
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@bahrain businesses and foreign partners can be confident that the education and training offered @bahrain will provide an appropriately skilled local workforce. EduTrain@bahrain will partner with associated local governmental entities to create training opportunities for Bahrainis, as well as working closely with the local community and educational institutions to foster job skills and professional development.
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