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Princess Sabeeka and Dr Al Nuaimi with other dignitaries and
guests at the forum

Jobs boost for women in Bahrain’s Education Ministry

MANAMA, February 18, 2015

Women now make up more than half of Bahrain’s Education Ministry's employees, it was revealed yesterday (February 17).

Speaking at the first Women and Education Forum, which was held by the Supreme Council for Women under the patronage of Her Royal Highness Princess Sabeeka bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa, wife of His Majesty King Hamad and SCW president, Education Minister Dr Majid Al Nuaimi credited the National Action Charter for enhancing women's rights, said a report in the Gulf Daily News (GDN), our sister publication.

"Due to His Majesty's efforts and conscientiousness, The National Action Charter has had a significant effect on women's rights," said Dr Al Nuaimi.

"We're proud to take part in this forum and continue to support the SCW."

Bahrain was the top country in the Arab world where men and women had equal education opportunities, the minister said, adding that there were many women in top positions within his ministry.

"In the Education Ministry, women make up 52 per cent of the ministry out of which 46pc are in leadership positions," he said.

"In addition, 61 per cent of teachers in the country are women.

"Girls' scores have been so impressive and consistently higher than boys' that we got rid of quotas for a certain number of girls and boys for scholarships, and now just have a quota for the highest marks.

"This is also reflected in Bahrain University, where 72 per cent of the students are women."

Dr Al Nuaimi added that students were now required to finish 60 hours of community service before they could graduate.

"No matter what the students' grades are, even if they're in the top one per cent, they will not be able to graduate if they don't complete the hours required," he said.

"We've been getting great responses from different organisations about this programme and we're proud of the students."

Meanwhile, SCW secretary-general Hala Al Ansari stressed the importance of education for the 34,000 students currently enrolled in Bahrain's schools.

"It is important to have a general understanding of the role of women in society and to have competition in general," she said.

"These values are important and education is the most important channel we have."

In a statement, Princess Sabeeka also praised His Majesty's initiative to establish an Equal Opportunities Unit in the Education Ministry.

"Women in Bahrain have had access to formal education for 88 years," she said in a statement.

"This has enabled successive generations of pioneering Bahraini women.

"Educating women is incredibly important and every woman should achieve the highest certification possible in order to promote herself, her family and her community and improve any position she finds herself in." - TradeArabia News Service




Tags: Bahrain | education | Women | Ministry |

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