Pilot Workplace Learning Program for 25 Secondary School Students underway
Manama, Bahrain: 25 students from Al Maarifa Commercial School have gone out into the workplace to undertake a six week Structured Workplace Learning (SWL) programme.
This work placement programme, for year two secondary school students, is the inaugural pilot of one of the first programs of investment in Bahrain’s people, as outlined in the goals of Economic Vision 2030.
Central to the success of Vision 2030, is the recognition of the importance of an effective education system, which is relevant to today’s global labour market. One of the main principles of Vision 2030 is ‘sustainability’, which guides the national aspiration to build an economy that lasts, extending and improving training and education, and developing Bahrainis skills to provide for future generations.
This is reflected in the initiatives and education reforms that are now taking place in secondary vocational and technical schools across Bahrain.
Al Rashid Group - Bahrain (ARG) is partnering with the Ministry of Education (MOE) in the implementation of the SWL programme. This new approach to industry training is also part of the National Education Reform Initiatives (NERI).
The NERI Initiatives are a cross – government effort under the leadership of Deputy Prime Minister Shaikh Mohammed bin Mubarak Al Khalifa, in partnership with the Ministries of Education and Labour, the EDB and other stakeholders from both the public and private sectors and civil society. NERI is focused on four main initiatives; developing the quality of our teacher’s through the establishment of the Bahrain Teachers College, setting up an independent Quality Assurance Authority to conduct reviews of all education institutes and set national school examinations, the creation of Bahrain Polytechnic to cater to the needs of a dynamic labour market, developing secondary vocational education to offer more applied and practical learning to students, and finally a School Improvement Programme which focuses on enhancing the public schools’ performance in the country.
The SVEP and SWL initiatives involve developing training programmes that are responsive to the specific challenges and needs of businesses, and in so doing closing the gap between education and labour market needs.
“The programmes will enable students to experience a real work environment, and ensure that they gain practical skills that they can apply in real life.” said NERI Executive Director, Dr. Martyn Forrest.
The SWL students will take part in structured training in the retail industry. Whilst they are undergoing this training the MOE will adopt a liaison role, supporting both the students and the companies that they are embedded in.
Mr. Tawfeeq Al Rayyash, the Human Resource Group Manager of ARG said that the company strongly supports the MOE initiative which provides students with the opportunity to experience the changing nature of the retail industry.
“ARG has a strong commitment to the ongoing training and up-skilling of its workforce”, said Mr Al Rayyash, “our experience in working with Government initiatives in this area means that we can provide valuable input into the SWL pilot, as well as recommendations for future changes that will enhance the correlation between industry practice and future labour market requirements”
The pilot programme will conclude on 4TH December 2008.
ENDS.
Editors Notes:
Bahrain’s Economic Vision 2030 – for a fairer, more competitive and sustainable nation – involves all sections of the community, from government to business and the wider society, in working together to build a better Bahrain for every Bahraini. Central to its success is the recognition of the importance of an effective education system, relevant to today’s global labour market.
This is reflected in the primary importance afforded to the National Education Reform Initiatives (NERI). Introduced in 2005, the reform initiatives mark one of the earliest and ambitious programs of investment in Bahrain’s people towards the goals of Vision 2030. The comprehensive range of measures undertaken at all levels of the education system, from schools to vocational and teacher training are now beginning to bear fruit in delivering more and better education for all Bahrainis.