Deputy Premier chairs Supreme Council for the Development of Education and Training meeting

Manama, Feb. 21 (BNA): Deputy Premier and President of the Supreme Council for the Development of Education and Training, HH Shaikh Mohammed bin Mubarak Al Khalifa, chaired here today the meeting of the Council in its third session, following the issuance of an edict by His Royal Highness Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa on its membership. The deputy premier welcomed the new members, and expressed thanks and appreciation to the outgoing ones, stressing continuous efforts to enhance education and training in the kingdom. The session reviewed the education and training strategy for the coming period, following the celebration of the 10th anniversary of the initiatives of the National Project to Develop Education and Training, including the Bahrain Polytechnic, the Bahrain Teachers’ College and the Education and Training Quality Authority (BQA). The council discussed a proposal to discuss the education development programmes within the third edition of the unified framework of government programmes with priority, 2019-2020, through focus on the four themes, namely quality of education, success of the higher education sector, the development of the infrastructure of education and the improvement of the educational system. The council reviewed efforts to develop the education and training system in the kingdom through re-structuring the Ministry of Education. In this context, the council welcomed the appointment of an experienced company to address the matter, in light of the allocated budget, noting that the move will contribute to reducing the Education Ministry’s operational expenses, and enhancing the performance of its educational and administrative bodies. Then, the meeting reviewed 33 review reports presented by BQA on its review and follow-up visits to government and private schools and vocational training institutions, in addition to the results of the work of the National Framework for Qualification. The council also reviewed the Memorandum of Understanding that will be renewed between Bahrain’s BQA and the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF).