UNESCO Regional Conference for Arab States opened
(Manama) – Deputy Prime Minister also President of the Supreme Council for Development of Education and Training, Shaikh Mohammed bin Mubarak Al Khalifa, delegated Education Minister, Chairman of Higher Education Council, Dr Majid Al-Nuaimi, to attend the opening ceremony of the UNESCO Regional Conference for the Arab States.
Bahrain hosted the conference in the presence of UNESCO Director of Division for Policies and Lifelong Learning Systems, Dr. David Atchoarena; CEO of Education and Training Quality Authority, Dr. Jawahir Al-Madhaki; members of Arab and international higher education quality assurance networks and a number of officials and academics from the local higher education sector.
In his speech, the minister highlighted Bahrain’s achievements in providing education for all and in the development of education and higher education, as recognized by international organizations, including the UNESCO, thanks to the support of the royal leadership.
He said Bahrain has succeeded in providing free and compulsory education for all children, including children with special needs, and that Bahrain continues to implement projects designed to improve the quality of education and its outcomes at all levels, chiefly initiatives developed by the national project for the development of education and training, as well as the Digital Empowerment in Education project .
He pointed out Bahrain’s efforts in disseminating values of tolerance, coexistence, dialogue and rejecting violence and extremism at schools, which have been culminated in launching a unique project titled “Citizenship and human rights enhancing schools.”
He welcomed the long-standing cooperation with the UNESCO, most importantly launching the UNESCO King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa Prize for the Uses of ICT in Education, which has contributed to promoting education initiatives for all, noting the cooperation in the development of technical and vocational education curricula and courses of citizenship and human rights.
Dr. Atchoarena also addressed the meeting and praised Bahrain’s efforts in supporting education in Bahrain, noting that the meeting is a preparatory for the UNESCO General Conference to be held in Paris next year, which will focus on the development of higher education globally.
The meeting comprised several sessions that focused on the role of quality assurance systems in bolstering sustainable development, along with other topics related to the development of higher education at Arab and international levels.
