Bahrain is planning to set up a panel of experts to monitor assessments to strengthen the quality of medicine and dentistry graduates, a report said.

The new regulations will be part of the kingdom's proposal for a GCC project to unify criteria for the recognition of medical qualifications in member states, according to the report in the Gulf Daily News, our sister publication.

They were agreed at an extraordinary meeting of the National Committee for Assessment of Academic Qualifications.

The meeting was chaired by under-secretary for educational and curricula affairs and committee president Dr Abdulla Al Mutawa.

Discussions focused on drop in achievements among graduates, particularly those with low GCSE scores.

The committee recommended that medical graduates with GCSE scores of less than 90 per cent should not have their degrees assessed, effective from April 10. It also urged strict monitoring of attendance by students, whereby degrees issued by universities providing part-time education would not be recognised.

Students would also be required to produce proof of their attendance.

The committee also discussed a request by GCC General Secretariat to study Bahrain's recommendations concerning rules on long-distance learning.

It suggested the Unesco Convention on the Recognition of Studies, Diplomas and Degrees in Higher Education in Arab States be reconsidered to keep abreast of developments in this field.

The committee reiterated medical graduates must produce evidence of successful completion of required residency period in a government or university hospital prior to the assessment of their qualifications. – TradeArabia News Service