Path to a bright future

THE POWER of polytechnics will be introduced into the kingdom in a bid to improve the learning abilities of students and help them find jobs crucial for the future of Bahrain.

The whole education system on the island is being reformed and is under scrutiny by world-renowned academics to ensure standards are improved across the board.

"The significance of education cannot be stressed enough. Education is the major arbiter of an individual's future," said Dr Martyn Forrest, executive director of education reform at the Economic Development Board (EDB).

Dr Forrest has been in Bahrain for the last 10 months and has had considerable experience with reforming large organisations and running health and education systems in Australia.

"Equally the future of Bahrain as a prosperous economy is going to depend upon the contributions its education system is going to make," he added saying that the biggest challenge is for people to understand how investment in education is the way to a brighter future.

According to comprehensive surveys conducted by the EDB in 2005, 50 per cent of students at the University of Bahrain are failing in their first two years of university and only 12 per cent of technical school graduates entered the labour market (19.5 per cent in 2005) directly after graduation out of which only four per cent obtained work in their field of study.

These appalling statistics about the present state of the education system has spurred the government to take action and introduce education reforms that will eventually pave the way for progress and future development of the economy.

Led by Crown Prince Shaikh Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the education reform strategy is one of the three key reform areas that the Crown Prince has identified that will lead Bahrain forward on the path of advancement and economic growth.

The National Education Reform Initiative, headed by Deputy Prime Minister Shaikh Mohammed bin Mubarak Al Khalifa, was launched in June 2007 and is overseeing the implementation of the reform. Most components of the first phase of the reform project are due to be in place through the course of this year.

The project is right on track, according to EDB officials, and into its implementation stage the reform is focusing on four main initiatives that are set to impact the education system with the required intensity in a short span of time.

International education experts are supporting the initiatives with their expertise to build an understanding and set international standards that are both sustainable and long term.

Speaking about challenges of implementation, Dr Forrest added: "Every education system faces challenges in reform. There are over 400 educational institutions in Bahrain and not everyone wants a change at the same pace or wishes to implement the same kind of things.

"The key is to build confidence and change behaviour through constant discussions and consultations. The reform is a worthwhile investment and the four initiatives are really a catalyst for change.

"Bahrain is ready for this reform and there is a great deal of enthusiasm at the senior level. If you don't have well qualified people then you are unlikely to have an expanding economy. You look around the world and labour shortages are a major feature which is due to lack of training and education.

"There is now a global movement and countries that have not been able to educate their own people try and buy expertise which proves to be very expensive and is not sustainable in the long run."

The economies of countries are changing and with it job requirements and training is also changing and is becoming increasingly specific and focused. There are many polytechnics all over the world and the government of Bahrain realises the importance of such institutions offering advanced professional and applied learning courses to train its manpower.

"We are launching a brand new polytechnic in September 2008 as part of our reform initiative. Initially it will train 200 students with a target of 600 in February 2009. The polytechnic will offer diploma and degree courses in industrial and applied sciences," said Dr Forrest adding that Polytechnics International New Zealand (PINZ) is offering their expertise in setting up the institution.

Quality Assurance Authority (QAA) is the second reform initiative that has four units. QAA will be responsible for conducting independent reviews of educational institutions and administering school level examinations. Its three review arms will look at schools, vocational institutions and universities and the fourth will delve into examinations.

"Reviews from QAA will present the institutions an overview of their performance according to certain set standards which will set the ball rolling for institutions to change their methods of operation. We have brought in international expertise they have an inherent understanding and knowledge of quality standards which have to be met," he stressed.

In the pipeline are also national assessments based on the present curriculum for students at key stages in grades 3, 6 and 9 to establish clear expectations which would be in line with international standards of student achievement levels. QAA in conjunction with The University of Cambridge International Examinations (CIE) is working on this aspect of the reform.

"Another reform initiative is to ensure that Bahrain develops its teaching faculty for its students. For this we are setting a teacher training institution in September 2008 where all teachers at all levels will be trained. Our international partner in this initiative is Singapore's National Institute of Education (NIE) who are lending their expertise to the Ministry of Education," said Dr Forrest.

Currently the lowest performers in Bahrain's universities enter the teaching profession and this initiative apart from evaluating and training present teachers will also put in place improved recruitment procedures to attract better applicants for teaching positions.

Improving secondary vocational training is another initiative on the education reform agenda and the main focus of this initiative is on practical skills development which involves learning through practice.

Apprenticeship programmes, close liaison with the private sector to stay informed about the market needs and redesigning the secondary vocational programs so that students can obtain jobs relevant to their training immediately after leaving school is the main focus of this initiative. The Department of Education (DOE) from Victoria, Australia, are partnering with the Ministry of Education to implement this aspect of reform.

The reform strategy that is being implemented by the EDB and the Ministry of Education is a tailor-made solution for the problems faced by the Bahraini education system instead of a generic formula out of a hat.

The reform is an ongoing process and experts are of the opinion that the reforms will lend the kingdom's education system the dynamism that it needs to effectively train its human resources which will address the local market needs in future.

Results of the diagnostics conducted by EDB from June 2005 to November 2005. The detailed survey involved companies and senior officials, parents and students, focus groups, visits to educational institutions and analysis of Bahraini and oversees reports.

Girls are outperforming boys across the system and achievement levels in all the core subjects need to be improved.

The two main reasons for low student achievement level is due to the low quality of teaching level in most schools and the curriculum is knowledge-based rather than focused on skills.

50 per cent of the private sector companies claim that there is a gap between the needs of the labour market and the skills that graduates acquire during their studies.

Only 12 per cent of technical school graduates entered the labour market directly after graduation (19.5 per cent in 2005) and only four per cent obtained work in their field of study.

50 per cent of University of Bahrain students are failing in their first two years and more course options are required to match the market needs.