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2nd national conference for Bahrain women held

Princess Sabeeka bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa, wife of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, and President of the Supreme Council for Women (SCW), patronised last week the Second National Conference for Bahraini Women under the slogan (The Integration of Women’s Needs in Development.. Review and Evaluation).

The conference was organised by the SCW, in cooperation with the Bahrain Women Union and the Cooperation Committee between the SCW and women’s associations and committees.

The SCW’s Secretary-General, Hala Al Ansari, stressed that the notion integrating women’s needs in the plans and policies is a major mechanism for the empowerment of women and it broadens their participation in the development, emphasising the importance of local and international practices that support principle of equal opportunities and integration of women’s needs.

Al Ansari explained that principles of justice and equal opportunities are realised through the adoption of legislative and executive measures and reviewing the national strategies to ensure the integration of women’s needs and the provision of supportive services in work environment to enable women to harmonise efforts between work and family duties, in addition to activate the principle of equal opportunities in the government sector to ensure the integration of women as a competitive partner, as well as to develop motivating systems that support equal opportunities in government and civil society institutions as well as in the private sector.

The conference highlighted that the presence of women, in government institutions and ministries, has reached 47.8 per cent of the total workforce.

$2 billion earmarked 
for social housing plan

Deputy Prime Minister Shaikh Khalid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa disclosed that a more than $2 billion budget has been allocated for the upcoming 5-year pilot housing plan to reduce waiting lists in order for all citizens to benefit from housing services.

Shaikh Khalid said that there are multiple waiting lists at present. The Ministry of Housing continues to exert all efforts without let or failure, he said, pointing out that the social housing programme was introduced by the Ministry to provide housing service to as many citizens as possible. The programme agreements were signed by Minister of Housing engineer Bassim bin Yagoub Al Hammer; General Manager of Eskan Bank Dr Khalid Abdullah; representatives from the participating financial corporations: Ahli United Bank (AUB), Bahrain Islamic Bank (BIsB), Bank Al-Salam, Kuwaiti Finance House (KFH), real estate developers: Nasseej Company, Housing Properties Company, Saraya Company, Diyar Homes and Manara Developing Company.

Minister emphasises student aptitudes and dispositions

The 2nd Vocational Guidance Forum themed (Towards insightful, futuristic and productive horizons) was held recently with participation of 225 social guidance specialists from the three stages of schooling.

The Minister of Education, Majid bin Ali Al Nuaimi, emphasised in his inaugural speech the significance of maintaining an equilibrium between student needs, aptitudes and dispositions on the one hand and labour market requirements on the other.

Students receive quality academic instruction and vocational training to pursue an active career commensurate with individual aptitudes and inclinations, Dr Majid bin Ali Al Nuaimi said.

The minister envisioned building excellent vocational guidance programmes and harnessing modern techniques and technologies, pointing out that qualified social workers in the ministry boost academic and vocational awareness of intermediate school students to help them choose whichever subjects and disciplines they prefer to study at secondary school level according to their capabilities, disposition and academic performance.

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