Education

Bahrain was the first country in the region to start developing universal education and today this continues to form a central tenet of government policy. The World Economic Forum currently ranks Bahrain 48th worldwide in terms of the quality of its education system, and the kingdom has a literacy rate of 91%. In June 2014 the Higher Education Council approved Bahrain’s first National Strategy for Higher Education and Scientific Research. The strategy focuses on six priority areas for reform and improvement, including the development of quality teaching, increasing student engagement and the enhancement of higher education institutions, while work placement schemes and vocational training aimed at matching skills with high-growth areas are also key elements. Government goals to attract greater private sector participation present a bright outlook for investors looking to target the segment.

This chapter contains an interview with Solveig Nicklos, Director, Bahrain Institute of Banking and Finance.