Bahrain Mirror (Exclusive): In its first of kind decision since the suspension of work in educational and training institutions last March, the Bahraini authorities allowed vocational training institutes to resume their work and receive trainees starting next week, in a circular issued by Labor Minister Jameel Hamidan.

The decision, which was not directly issued by the government's coordinating committee, is the first to allow gatherings outside the course of work since the country tightened measures last March after outbreak of the Coronavirus.

Training institutes that received the circular said that the gathering of more than 10 trainees in one room is prevented, adding that a distance of at least two meters should be kept between the trainees, as well as wearing masks inside the training halls. The circular warned that the training institutions would be closed in the event of any violation.

However, the institutes said this would not improve their rigid status since three months, as the main funding for training programs, Tamkeen Fund, has stopped all its funding activities after it started to use its money in supporting troubled private sector institutions, in an attempt to reduce the effects of the crisis that is affecting the country's economy.

The authorities forced all schools, institutes and universities to suspend work and prevented any classes or courses, except the online ones. While the international bodies cancelled their annual examinations for high school students, private schools and universities have organized online lessons to complete the semester and changed their way in evaluating students

Although the Minister of Education announced the resumption of schools in September, the suspension remains pursuant to a decision issued by the governmental team that manages the crisis, headed by Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa.

Bahrain has been severely criticized for dealing with the crisis, due to not tightening restrictions on trade and not resorting to curfews, as many Gulf States have done.

Arabic Version