Quality Assurance Authority for Education & Training Annual Report 2011 For a Better Future “Education comes first and foremost to enhance our endeavours to achieve more prosperity and progress in our blessed country. Beloved students, you are the pillars, hope and backbone of the future, upon which the nation depends for generations to come.” His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa The King of the Kingdom of Bahrain December 2010, Bahrain First Festival (Bahrain Awalan) QUALITY ASSURANCE AUTHORITY FOR EDUCATION & TRAINING | ANNUAL REPORT 2011 3 HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS PRINCE HIS MAJESTY HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS KHALIFA BIN SALMAN KING HAMAD PRINCE SALMAN BIN HAMAD AL KHALIFA BIN ISA AL KHALIFA AL KHALIFA THE PRIME MINISTER THE KING OF THE KINGDOM THE CROWN PRINCE AND OF BAHRAIN CHAIRMAN OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT BOARD 4 QUALITY ASSURANCE AUTHORITY FOR EDUCATION & TRAINING | ANNUAL REPORT 2011 QUALITY ASSURANCE AUTHORITY FOR EDUCATION & TRAINING | ANNUAL REPORT 2011 5 Table of Contents Mandate 07 Statement of His Excellency Shaikh Khalid Bin Abdullah Al Khalifa Chairman of the Quality Assurance Authority for Education & Training 08 Statement of Dr. Jawaher Al Mudhahki Chief Executive of the Quality Assurance Authority for Education & Training 10 Board of Directors 12 Executive Teams 14 Executive Summary 16 Schools Review Unit 22 National Examinations Unit 34 Vocational Review Unit 46 Higher Education Review Unit 60 First QAAET Conference 70 Conclusion 72 Appendix 78 6 QUALITY ASSURANCE AUTHORITY FOR EDUCATION & TRAINING | ANNUAL REPORT 2011 QUALITY ASSURANCE AUTHORITY FOR EDUCATION & TRAINING | ANNUAL REPORT 2011 7 Mandate As part of the wider Education Reform project, which is an initiative of the Crown Prince, a decision was taken to ensure that there is quality of education at all levels within the Kingdom of Bahrain. The Quality Assurance Authority for Education & Training was established by Royal Decree No. 32 of 2008 and amendments were published in Royal Decree No. 6 of 2009. In terms of Article (4) of the Decree, its mandate is to ‘review the quality of the performance of education and training institutions in light of the guiding indicators developed by the Authority’. The Authority is also required to publish Review Reports as well as to report annually on the status of education within the Kingdom; this includes findings as well as improvements that have occurred as a result of the work of the Authority. VISION VALUES To be partners in developing a world-class education The values that we embrace in our work are: system in Bahrain • Professionalism MISSION • Fairness As an independent entity, we assure the quality of • Transparency education and training in Bahrain by: • Consistency • Reviewing public and private schools, vocational training and higher education institutions, both for • Integrity accountability and improvement purposes • Credibility • Developing and implementing a national examination • Commitment to international good practice system for schools • Publishing reports of findings • Advancing Bahrain’s reputation as a leader in quality assurance in education regionally and internationally 8 QUALITY ASSURANCE AUTHORITY FOR EDUCATION & TRAINING | ANNUAL REPORT 2011 Chairman’s Statement In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful pioneer in this field with the help of its supportive leadership, which always seeks the best interests of its citizens. As QAAET enters its third year, the road ahead has become clearer, and the aspirations of this young organisation have Filled with hope and optimism, we see this interaction between begun to materialise in its pursuit to promote the importance the QAAET and the various educational and training institutions of quality education and training in Bahrain. The QAAET has involved as being highly productive. We also see the keenness worked to demonstrate that this is a basic requirement for of these institutions to improve their performance through their development and progress; and to manage growth and own initiatives as they are beginning to reap positive results promote a transparent environment that encourages creativity reflected in the educational process as a whole, and as a result and innovation, as fostered by our great leader, His Majesty of them implementing the recommendations published in the King Hamad Bin Isa Al Khalifa, King of the Kingdom of Bahrain. QAAET reports. Not long ago, His Majesty launched Bahrain’s ‘Economic Vision 2030, which places a high quality education for Bahrainis as its This vision has led us to complete what we have started since cornerstone for achieving tomorrow’s aspirations. the launch of the QAAET in 2009. The QAAET has successfully managed to implement its general framework in record time This year, at the QAAET, we continued with our initiative to learn and has expanded its activities in all areas of its work. A major about the latest developments in the field of quality assurance qualitative expansion took place in May 2011, when the as well as other similar experiences in the Arab world and Education and Training Reform Committee approved the move globally. This is to compare their findings to ours, in line with of the National Qualifications Framework as an additional unit the government’s interest in all aspects of the education and into the QAAET. This called for the development of mechanisms training sector. which are necessary for this project to succeed, as well as its being incorporated into QAAET’s organisational structure. In this context, the first QAAET conference, ‘Quality Education With this new mandate, various components of the QAAET and Training: Towards a Better Future’, was held in February have become integrated and efforts have been consolidated 2011 under the auspices of His Highness Shaikh Mohammed and directed within a clear framework and plans that share a bin Mubarak Al Khalifa, Deputy Premier and Chairman of the comprehensive vision. Education and Training Reform Committee. The conference was a remarkable success which manifested itself through This year has proven to be another year of significant outstanding attendance, active interaction and a healthy achievements for the QAAET, and we will strive to achieve many exchange of expertise, views and experiences by qualified more years of success to accomplish the high aspirations of Bahraini and foreign participants. This conference will now mark our Kingdom. a major milestone in the achievements of QAAET, as it has been scheduled to take place on a biannual basis to regularly measure Indeed, QAAET would have never come this far without the our progress and plan our way ahead. Another major benefit of blessings of God the Almighty, the support of His Majesty these conferences is that they provide the opportunity for many King Hamad Bin Isa Al Khalifa, may God protect him, and the QAAET staff members to benefit and learn from world-class persistent follow-up and wise instructions of His Royal Highness experts from around the globe, which helps us achieve our goal Prince Khalifa Bin Salman Al Khalifa, the Prime Minister, and His of constant self-improvement. Royal Highness Prince Salman Bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Deputy Commander-in-Chief. This successful event was only one of many measures adopted by QAAET’s Board of Directors to promote and ensure a sustainable I would also like to express my thanks and gratitude to His culture of quality entrenched in the professional lives of all those Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Mubarak Al Khalifa, Deputy involved in education and training. In order to promote and Premier and Chairman of the Education and Training Reform internalise this culture, we need time and perseverance, but Board, for his vigorous oversight and great care, which facilitated we are confident that our objectives will be accomplished as a lot of our work towards fulfilling our mission. Thanks are also planned. The Kingdom of Bahrain has always been known as a due to the members of the Board of Directors, the Authority’s QUALITY ASSURANCE AUTHORITY FOR EDUCATION & TRAINING | ANNUAL REPORT 2011 9 Chairman’s Statement Chief Executive, Dr. Jawaher Shaheen Al Mudhahki, and to all QAAET staff. I am honoured to present this third annual report to our wise leadership, assuring that we, the QAAET Board of Directors, are resolved to follow the worthy national visions which promote the progress of our Kingdom and its citizens through hard work, perseverance and communication with all stakeholders to build a better future. May God the Almighty help us all achieve the aspirations of our generous Kingdom, its wise leadership and its sincere citizens. Khalid Bin Abdullah Al Khalifa Chairman of the Board 10 QUALITY ASSURANCE AUTHORITY FOR EDUCATION & TRAINING | ANNUAL REPORT 2011 Chief Executive’s Statement In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful QAAET to consider the different situations the schools face by identifying their strengths and weaknesses and by raising school With the start of every new year, the Quality Assurance Authority staff awareness on what ‘quality’ is and what it requires. It also for Education & Training (QAAET) takes the time to reflect upon provided an opportunity for each school in Bahrain to identify the challenges that were overcome and the goals that were what is needed to improve its performance and determine accomplished. These moments allow us to learn from our where it stands in relation to other schools in the Kingdom experience and create an even better future, one year at a time. according to international standards. Today, all public schools in the Kingdom understand the main methods to draft development Since QAAET’s establishment by Royal Decree No. 32 of 2008, plans, improve performance and achieve and ensure quality; we have faithfully followed the plan laid out by our Board of which are the objectives that QAAET has constantly strived to Directors under the Chairmanship of His Excellency Shaikh Khalid establish as an independent assessment body. Bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Authority’s Board of Directors.