Seven vocational education institutes in Bahrain have been given the seal of approval after raising their standards following nationwide inspections.

They were among 14 vocational institutes, 11 schools and six higher education facilities included in the latest review by the Quality Assurance Authority for Education and Training (QAAET).

The institutes that improved their performance from 'below satisfactory' to 'satisfactory' included the New Horizons Computer Learning Centre, European Institute, London Training Centre and Talal Abu-Ghazaleh Professional Training Academy.

The Bahrain Institute of Entrepreneurship and Technology, English Language Skills Centre and the Al Meer Training Centre were also deemed to have improved.

The Management Development Centre remained at the bottom rung of the scale.

The number of vocational reports published to date now stands at 79, with the overall performance showing 13 per cent of institutes were graded 'good', 56 per cent 'satisfactory' and the remaining 31 per cent 'below satisfactory'.

Among the most recent schools reviewed, Arad Primary Intermediate Boys School was the only one to score 'inadequate'.

Al Hidd Primary Boys School, Al Salam Primary Girls School, Hajar Primary Girls School and Sakina bint Al Hussein Primary Girls School were all rated 'good', while West Riffa Intermediate Boys School was graded 'outstanding'.

The number of schools now reviewed is 202 and includes all public schools in Bahrain.

A full report on Bahrain University and performance reviews at Ahlia University, Delmon University, Gulf University, AMA International University and New York Institute of Technology (NYIT) were prepared.

Only Ahlia University received a 'confidence' judgment and the others were given a 'no confidence' rating.

Meanwhile, the process of assessing the National Examinations began yesterday.

QAAET geared 620 markers and administration staff for the process.

The evaluation process will continue until end of the month.

The national examinations were held from May 8 to 19 with around 32,000 government school pupils in grades three, six and nine participating.-TradeArabia News Service