Manama: Nasser Centre for Science and Technology (NCST) and the Labour Fund (Tamkeen) have entered into a partnership agreement as part of Tamkeen's Apprenticeship Programme. The initiative aims to empower Bahraini youth in engineering specialties by providing them with training and career development opportunities, ultimately enabling them to enter the labor market with vocational qualifications.
According to Bahrain News Agency, the agreement was signed by Maha Abdulhameed Mofeez, Chief Executive of the Labour Fund (Tamkeen), and Dr. Abdullah Naser Al Noaimi, Chief Executive Officer of NCST. This partnership is designed to support education and vocational training in Bahrain through specialised training programmes that equip national talent with the necessary skills to compete in the labor market across a wide range of specialties.
This initiative aligns with Tamkeen's strategic priorities for 2025, focusing on enhancing the position and competitiveness of Bahrainis in the private sector. It aims to equip Bahrainis with suitable skills for career development, prioritise enterprise growth, digitisation, sustainability, and support the development of the ecosystem surrounding the labor market and private sector.
Maha Abdulhameed Mofeez underscored the significance of the programme in preparing Bahraini talent for the labor market. She highlighted the unique opportunity it offers Bahrainis to gain market-required skills and on-the-job training, which empowers them with practical knowledge necessary for career growth. The programme is aligned with Tamkeen's objective of making Bahrainis the employees of choice in the labor market and providing them with training opportunities that enhance their competitiveness.
Dr. Abdullah Naser Al Noaimi emphasised the role of apprenticeship in cultivating a highly competitive and qualified national workforce. He noted the effectiveness of the apprenticeship model in providing enterprises with a skilled workforce equipped with practical knowledge and expertise. He expressed enthusiasm for the collaboration with Tamkeen, which will aid in understanding market needs and connecting with key stakeholders across sectors to create training programmes tailored to workforce requirements.
The NCST training arm will collaborate with private sector enterprises to facilitate on-the-job training as part of the programme. This initiative will encourage enterprises to employ Bahrainis as apprentices, providing them with opportunities to gain in-demand practical knowledge in areas such as electrical work, welding, and plumbing. The programme will dedicate 30% of the apprentices' time to academic training and 70% to on-the-job training over a period of 36 months to ensure readiness for employment. NCST will announce the opening of applications for the programme at a later stage.