Towards Improving the Quality of Technical and Vocational Education and Training in Bahrain

Abstract

This article gives an overview of the technical and vocational education and training (TVET) system in Bahrain and proposes suggestions for improving the quality of TVET based on the international standards. The article begins by presenting a brief introduction about the demography, economy and the labour market in Bahrain. Then, it discusses the structure and organizations of the country’s education and training systems. Next, it highlights the main challenges currently facing TVET by illustrating the results of the four Bahraini TVET schools in the Quality Assurance Authority (QAA) review report. Then, the article presents some examples of the initiatives currently taken by the Ministry of Education (MoE) for improving TVET. The article concludes by outlining proposed suggestions for improving the quality of TVET in Bahrain by drawing on international recommendations presented by: (1) the European Training Foundation and the World Bank Report (2005) on reforming TVET in the Middle East and North Africa; (2) the principles of efficient TVET proposed by the Management and Training Corporation Institute (2010) in the United States; and (3) Jay Rojewski’s TVET framework (2009). The proposed suggestions are adapted to the Bahraini context, they emphasise the following elements of TVET: developing TVET framework; involvement of the private sector; improving accountably; diversification of funding; decentralisation; and improving the effectiveness of teaching and learning.