The National Institute for Industrial Training (NIIT) is preparing to launch a first-of-a-kind training programme in Bahrain and the region to provide technical and industrial training for women.

This is a step that is expected to increase the productivity of the sector that now stands at 26 per cent of the gross domestic product in Bahrain, reported the Gulf Daily News, our sister publication.

NIIT has already started the screening process to select the first group of trainees who approached the institute to join the new scheme called ‘Fanniya’ expected to be launched soon in co-operation with the authorities concerned.

Prior to the training, NIIT has secured agreements with a number of companies to recruit the selected candidates to secure them jobs in the field.

NIIT acting director Abdullah Mohammed said many women are interested in joining the technical sector but would not have the opportunity to receive proper training.

'This was one of the key reasons behind structuring this scheme to be the appropriate door for women from which they can enter this world in a well-studied approach through a unique programme that is being launched for the first time in Bahrain and targets women in the society.'

NIIT business development and projects manager Ali Al Noory said NIIT is building on a wide experience in running similar programmes that link training to recruitment to cater for the requirements of companies and job-seekers at the same time.

'We have ambitious plans to introduce this programme 'Fanniya' in three sectors: automotive, telecommunications and engineering, and we have already planned to launch the first scheme in the automotive sector to train the job-seekers after they are selected and employed in three jobs: car sales executives, car spare-parts sales executives and customer care advisers in the maintenance department.'

More than 1,000 trainees joined NIIT last year and the number is expected to increase to 1,500 in 2014. – TradeArabia News Service