A BD390,000 contract to train and qualify 100 Bahrainis as computer network professionals has been signed.

It was signed by Labour Fund (LF) and the Bahrain Training Institute (BTI).

Under the contract, the Bahrainis will acquire Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP) qualifications.

Labour Fund acting chief executive Abdulelah Al Qassimi signed the contract with BTI's acting director general Fadel Rabea.

The contract is for from this month to December 2010.

BTI was selected following a bidding process where a thorough evaluation was conducted based on quality variables and commercial costs, said Al Qassimi.

Labour Fund Human Capital Development acting vice-president Mohammed Bucheery said the CCNP programme aimed to resolve the skills shortage and gap that existed in all sectors in the field of computer network administration and engineering.

"It is expected that such training for these professional qualifications will increase the market value of new graduates which represent a major segment of the targeted beneficiaries," he noted.

"Developing the human capital for such high-value added jobs is at the core of the Labour Fund's objectives."

Rabea expressed his happiness on the occasion of winning the bid.

"Signing such a contract with the Labour Fund underlines the BTI's capability in preparing Bahrainis for professional qualifications that will lead them into promising opportunities in the labour market," he added.

The BTI is an accredited regional Cisco certified Academy since 2001.

The CCNP programme is targeting 100 beneficiaries made up of two segment groups, said Mr Rabea.

Fresh school graduates or new entrants to the labour market may apply to the two-year diploma in computing studies.

It will be followed by an international professional certification covering six months of training for the CCNA (Cisco Computer Network Associate) leading to another six months for the CCNP, which covers network installation and support programmes.

The second group of 50 is targeted at university graduates with a BSc in computer science or computer engineering who may apply for the programme during which they will receive six months training for CCNA.

It will be followed by six months for CCNP, covering network installation and support programmes complemented with a further four months in CCND training in network engineering and design programmes.

Al Qassimi reaffirmed that the Labour Fund was committed to enhancing the competencies, skills and employability of Bahraini nationals and identifying the economic sectors that offer value-added jobs.

Currently, the Labour Fund has a number of training programmes in place with different training and educational institutions such as the College of Health Sciences, the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland - the Medical University of Bahrain, Bahrain Airport Services Aircraft Engineering Training Centre, Baisan Institute for Hospitality Management and Ernst & Young.

Programmes currently underway include training in aeronautics maintenance engineering, health care programmes, hospitality and catering and international accounting certification.

Other projects currently in the pipeline with the human capital initiatives is the career progression project for 6,500 employees, the skills gap training project for retail sector, a talent management training initiative for small and medium enterprises (Leadership and HR Certification training projects) and a Work Attitude Development Scheme which is currently in the planning phase.