Results of secondary examinations in Bahrain’s public schools showed that a record 96.3 per cent out of 5,700 students passed the exams, of whom 114 were home-schooled.

A total of 500 students, including 147 boys and 353 girls, achieved outstanding scores and earned a grade point average (GPA) of 95 per cent and above.

It was an increase of 13.8 per cent from last year's outstanding students line-up in which only 431 earned above 95 per cent GPA.

'Grades have shown a significant improvement because we started implementing a new approach in the way we educate students and through the 45-minute time extension we introduced in February, which has really helped us in our programmes and curricula,' said Education Minister Dr Majid Al Nuaimi.

'This doesn't mean that we have reached the end of the line as teachers will continue receiving developments to their vocational and employment statuses through training and continuous education, taking into consideration advancements in the educational field that would further elevate what's being presented to students.

'So far we have trained 3,200 teachers to be in line with the time changes and thousands others will be given more necessary training in future,' he said.

'We are working to attract new qualified teachers and ensure that veterans offer them the necessary experience to continue the road of excellent education given to students and this comes with our introduction of lucrative incentives to ensure both specimens are available at schools.'

Dr Al Nuaimi also announced the results of the first round of examinations for the technical secondary schools students.

'A total of 88.8 per cent passed in the advanced technical and vocational section, 81.6 per cent in the regular technical and vocational section, 90.4 per cent in the technical stream, 79.3 per cent in applied technical education and 76 per cent in general vocational training,' he said.

'The average overall passing percentage of students in the technical secondary education is expected to increase to 95 per cent with 22 students already achieving 95 per cent and above,' he added. – TradeArabia News Service