Riyadh: Dr. Mohammed bin Mubarak Juma, Minister of Education, participated in a high-level dialogue session held on the sidelines of the celebration marking 50 years since the establishment of the Arab Bureau of Education for the Gulf States. The event was organised by the Bureau under the patronage of His Royal Highness Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Governor of the Riyadh Region of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
According to Bahrain News Agency, Dr. Juma stated that education holds a central place in the Kingdom of Bahrain's economic vision and development plans. He highlighted that Bahrain has adopted comprehensive strategies to develop education and build a modern system aligned with global developments and international standards. He emphasized that national education policy is guided by national priorities, the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goal 4 on education, as well as the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) reference frameworks, including ongoing curriculum development, capacity-building and diversification of specialisations in line with future skills and jobs, across all stages of education, including early education.
Dr. Juma also pointed out the Kingdom's strong focus on STEM education through an integrated approach that develops students' critical thinking, innovation and problem-solving skills through practical application and projects rather than isolated theoretical learning. He remarked that this approach is essential to meeting future challenges and the changing labour market.
The Education Minister further noted that Bahrain's Ministry of Education has begun implementing a plan to integrate the arts and real-world applications to enhance engagement, enhance teacher training and develop curricula. Additionally, the plan aims to expand effective participation in international assessments such as the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) in mathematics and science and Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS) in reading, alongside other international tests and surveys.