Local News

Job protest pays off

June 18 - 24, 2008
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Gulf Weekly Mai Al Khatib-Camille
By Mai Al Khatib-Camille

Protest power appears to have paid off for a Bahraini security officer after his pleas for a chance to propel his career prospects were finally heard.

Ambitious Mohammed Moosa Maki Omran, picketed in front of the Ministry of Education for 11 days in order to secure himself a better future.

Mohammed, 31, from Nuwaidrat, stood under the blistering sun from 6am until 2.30pm armed with placards and protest posters.

He said: "I am a humble hard working man who is only trying to improve my family's future as well as my own."

Currently acting as a security guard at a public school in Isa Town, Mohammed would have been more than thrilled to receive a pay raise, a promotion, or the chance of securing his dream job as a teacher.

Mohammed said protesting was his desperate attempt to be heard as he felt his pleas for a chance to fulfil his potential were being ignored.

"Education is very important in my family," he explained. "My father is a retired principal and I decided that the only way I would ever advance in life was to go to university and get my baccalaureate."

To prove his determination to succeed academically he took out a BD10,000 loan which he will have to carry on settling with regular payments of BD160 until 2015.

"After four long years I had graduated from the American University of Beirut with a baccalaureate in psychology.

"I figured that with this degree I would be able to get somewhere in the world. But after two years of not seeing any new developments I had to make a stand.

"I did not mind the sun, although I passed out twice and had to be taken to hospital - but what really burnt me was when someone told me that I was nothing and would always be a nothing. It was suggested that I put my degree in my desk drawer because it will do me no good."

The Ministry of Education public relations department said it had become aware of Mohammed's one man campaign.

A spokesman said: "We applaud Mohammed's ambition and his academic achievement, however, there is a proper way to go about things. Instead of protesting he should have passed his papers onto our human resource department to be put in the system as there are many individuals seeking jobs at the moment.

"Firstly, a security guard is an honorable job that should not be taken lightly. To qualify you will need a vast amount of experience and knowledge in first aid and safety techniques.

"We make sure at the ministry that everyone is well taken care of and placed in the correct position. In no way did we turn Mr Mohammed away.

"We are here to aid our people. We wish to see everyone shine."

Mohammed met with officials on June 11 to sort matters out and says his papers were taken away for processing

He said: "I finally felt as if things were going my way. All I wanted was to be heard and after some discussion I see that the ministry is trying to help".

On Sunday, Mohammed heard further good news that starting in September he would be invited for testing and background checks would be carried out for possible career enhancement.

He said: "I am so happy and very excited about this new development. It's going to be a great new beginning for me."







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