The Gulf Arab States Educational Research Center (GASERC), in collaboration with the Ministry of Education in the Kingdom of Bahrain, conducted a training workshop titled "Education in Crises and Emergencies" from January 28 to 30, 2025, in Manama.
The workshop was inaugurated by Mrs. Nawal Ibrahim Al Khater, the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Education in Bahrain, who welcomed the attendees and reviewed the ministry’s efforts to ensure the sustainability and continuity of the educational process under all circumstances. She highlighted the strategic projects that the ministry had adopted and implemented early on to ensure the efficiency and quality of education and learning within classrooms. Al-Khater also expressed her appreciation for GASERC’s role in supporting educational systems in the Gulf States, confirming that the training program addresses a genuine need for specialists and field leaders in schools, equipping them with skills and tools to handle crises and emergencies efficiently.
Dr. May Ahmad Shamandy, Acting Director of the Regional Center for Information and Communication Technology, also delivered a speech in which she welcomed the attendees. She emphasized the significance of the partnership with GASERC and expressed her pleasure in hosting the training workshop at the Center’s headquarters. She emphasized the GASERC’s crucial role in strengthening the capabilities of educational staff and empowering them to address educational challenges. Dr. Shamandy also expressed her gratitude to Dr. Mohammed Al-Sharija, Director of GASERC.
After that, Dr. Mohammed Al-Sharija delivered a speech in which he expressed his gratitude for hosting the workshop in the Kingdom of Bahrain. He extended his heartfelt thanks to Dr. Mohammed Bin Mubarak Juma, Minister of Education, and Mrs. Nawal Al Khater, Undersecretary of the Ministry, for their support of GASERC’s activities and initiatives. He also commended the efforts of the Ministry of Education team in Bahrain for their outstanding organization and significant contributions to the success of the workshop.
Dr. Al-Sharija clarified that this workshop comes in response to the directives of ABEGS member states, aimed at enhancing the readiness of ministries of education to handle crises and emergencies. He also emphasized the importance of the workshop in developing comprehensive strategies and plans to ensure the continuity of the educational process, highlighting its pivotal role in training educational sector workers and preparing them to face challenges and crises, thus ensuring sustainability and flexibility in education systems.
This workshop is an extension of GASERC’s ongoing efforts, which include preparing a study on education during crises to identify appropriate policies and educational practices, developing a guide for managing education in crises, and implementing training workshops on this subject in ABEGS member states. These workshops aim to enhance the capabilities of education sector workers in strategic planning, managing emergency situations to ensure the safety of students and teachers, and maintaining education in a secure environment.
The workshop in Bahrain was attended by 25 officials and specialists from the Ministry of Education, along with experts from the Queen Rania Academy for Teacher Training and GASERC. The training activities focused on education and management during crises, risk management planning, developing effective response strategies, and providing psychological and social support to students, teachers, and parents. Additionally, the workshop emphasized the protection of educational sector workers and focused on enhancing their capacity to face crises.
