Inaugurating the project at Al Hidaya Al Khalifiya Boys Secondary School, HM the King said: “The project will contribute to further development of the students’ outputs and enable youngsters to learn the best in modern technology.” The project would modernize the teaching methods and bring the students up to date with the latest developments in the information technology, King Hamad said. The Prime Minister, Shaikh Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, ministers, and officials from private and government organizations attended the event.
“Through the project the students will be able to contribute to the comprehensive reforms in the country,” HM the King said and praised the Minister of Education, Dr Majid bin Ali Al Nuaimi, and the ministry’s staff for their efforts to ensure the success of the project.
“The young generations are the bright future of the Kingdom and their accomplishments will contribute to further developments,” HM the King said.
The BD5 million project, implemented from the current academic year, covered 11,000 students from 11 secondary schools. The ministry is expected to extend the project to cover all secondary schools in 2008. The final stages of the EduWave deployment will concentrate on implementing it among intermediate and primary schools. The project is part of the ministry’s efforts to upgrade the education system at all levels, draw-up and plan its policies within the framework determined by the State, supervise the educational quality criteria, cooperate with other public bodies and institutions to develop and improve the education system and link education to the needs of both the individual and society. It enables administration teams, teachers, students and parents to interact and be actively involved in accomplishing the ministry’s educational missions. Computers are an important factor in the project, especially in measuring the students’ learning abilities. Students conduct scientific experiments through easy-to-use EduWave Platform. Principals monitor the daily progress of the operations and the teaching process through computers and the teachers mark students’ homework through the computer too.
“The project is part of HM the King’s keenness to integrate education and the modern technology, enhance the literacy movement and provide the best for the students,” Dr Al Nuaimi said, adding that it would change the concept of an ordinary classroom and make learning flexible and more fun.
The minister said the project enabled the students to keep learning even at home through the EduWave Platform and the ministry’s Web site.
“I’m optimistic the project will contribute to great achievements in education and associate the students in the ministry’s development missions.” Dr Al Nuaimi said a panel of educators had been formed to evaluate the project’s implementation.
“A total of 9,792 fresh primary students will be included in the project. E-learning provides the students with one of the most interactive self-study approaches and constitutes a new trend in education as it creates a round-the-clock interactive atmosphere,” the minister said. “The ministry has organized a training course to develop electronically comprehensible modules for the 1,371 staff members to familiarize them with e-learning techniques and approaches.”
“The ministry has been ranked one of the best in the region because of its keenness on enhancing human resources development,” Dr Al Nuaimi said, adding that those who had distinguished and exerted themselves in various areas of education or in serving the country would not go unnoticed.
“The ministry ensures that education gets the special attention it deserves from all sectors to provide the students with the best services,” he said. The minister said the primary mission of the ministry was to translate the leadership’s vision in terms of enhancing the literacy movement through various programmes and development projects.
“The ministry has taken steps to implant this vision so that schools become centers of education and culture that will serve civic organizations and contribute to the continuing development of Bahrain.” “The ministry is proud to provide educational services for 124,000 students at 202 public schools and supervise the progress of 44,197 students in private institutions,” Dr Al Nuaimi said.
“We’ll work hard so that the most valued educational principles and instructions won’t only be upheld but also respond to the citizens’ needs.”
During the launching ceremony, students Khalid Al Shaer and Ahmed Al Qani’a recited poetry on HM the King’s support for the literacy movement and the importance of the project. A documentary about the history of education was also screened. HM the king and the Prime Minister visited the electronic classroom and were briefed about the teaching methods and the smart board. Teachers Mushal Al Bardoli and Nabeel Ali demonstrated the teaching process. HM the King and the Premier also visited the old premises of Al Hidaya school. Dr Al Nuaimi presented a commemorative gift to HM the King.
