Bahrain places considerable emphasis on investment in vocational training. This is part of the policy of Bahrainisation to lower unemployment amongst nationals and reduce reliance on expatriates. Vocational training is co-ordinated by the Ministry of Labour, High Council for Vocational Training, and several specific councils for training. The Labour fund (renamed as Tamkeen), established by the Bahrain Government, also plays a role in this area.

Vocational Education Training

The Ministry of Labour's policy to develop vocational qualifications is pivotal in the government's plan to develop a well skilled labour force that meets market needs. Local educational organisations offer training for jobseekers at all skill levels. Popular subjects include Retail, Travel Hospitality, Tourism and all areas of Technical Training.

The Ministry of Labour operates a number of training institutes, the most prestigious being the Bahrain Training Institute.

Other specialist institutes include:

			the Bahrain Institute of Banking and Finance (BIBF)
			the Bahrain Institute of Technology (BIT)
			the Bahrain Institute of Hospitality and Retail Training (BIHR)
			the Bahrain Polytechnic.

There has also been investment in vocational training provision to improve nationals’ skills levels, tackle unemployment and develop Bahrain as a regional centre for training. The UK has been closely involved, so some training providers and ministries offer NVQs, BTEC First, National and Higher National Diplomas.

The High Council for Vocational Training [HCVT] was established in 1975 to cater for the training needs of the private sector. The HCVT introduced various policies and initiated several projects to fill gaps in the labour market and provide the necessary training for Bahraini workers to grow in their careers.

Initially, training focused on upgrading the skills of the local workforce so they could replace the skilled expatriate workforce. From the early 1980s, it focused on enhancing the employability of jobseekers, to help them find employment in the private sector.