A total of 2,671 students had joined the modified technical and vocational apprenticeship system during the academic year 2011-2012 in technical schools and 971 students in commercial schools of Bahrain, said a senior government official.

Education Minister Dr Majid Al Nuaimi added that the ministry provided 68 male and female teachers in all disciplines applicable in the modified system.

The concerned departments studied developments and determined the needs of these schools in addition to Bahrain Training Institute. Workshops and training programmes were organised on modern teaching methodology and optimum utilisation of classrooms.

Dr Al Nuaimi said the management and follow-up committee for technical and vocational programmes made preparations to apply quality system in technical and vocational schools to standardise appraisal mechanism and designed e-forms which make it easy for teachers, section heads and auditors to carry out their tasks.

It trained specialists to obtain internationally-recognised certification, in collaboration with the Centre for Excellence in Technical and Vocational Education.

The panel discussed a proposal on school hours in technical and vocational schools in compliance with a project set to be implemented in the second semester for secondary school students.

School hours will start at 7.30am and end by 2.15pm with two breaks, first for 30 minutes after the second class and second for 15 minutes after the fourth class provided 60 minutes are allocated for theory and 40 for specialisation subjects. – TradeArabia News Service