The Social Development
Bahrain's position, in first place among Arab countries on the UNDP Human Development Index, issued in September 1998, is an indication of the strong emphasis that has been given to the country's social development in all fields. A brief outline of the education sector vividly illustrate this.
Bahrain's first elementary school was opened in 1919, followed by the first girls' elementary school in 1928. The first industrial school was opened in 1936, while the first girls' secondary school opened in 1951. The religious school, established in 1943 to graduate Sharia law scholars, became known as the Religious Institute in 1960. The Teachers College was opened in 1966 and Khaliji Technology College was incorporated into Bahrain University in 1968. Private education began with Manama School in 1952 and the Private Education Act was passed in 1961. Meanwhile the Joint National Committee for Adult Education was formed in 1971. Bahrain University College for Science, Arts, and Education (Bahrain University) was inaugurated in 1979 while the Arabian Gulf University commenced its operations with a faculty of medicine.
129,748 students were registered in 1996, of whom 109,890 attended public sector government schools and 19,858 attended private schools. At the time of writing there are 218 schools, 180 government run and 38 privately administrated. The total investment in this sector in 1998 was BD 82 million.
The health sector has also witnessed exponential growth, culminating in the 1997 opening, by Prime Minister HH Sheikh Khalifa bin Sulman, of the expanded Al Sulmaniah Medical Complex which offers the most advanced diagnostic and medical facilities. Considered to be the most extensive utility of its kind in Bahrain, it occupies 45,000 sq.m.
On an international level Bahrain was elected from among 192 states, to chair the 51st General Session of the International Medical Society to be held in Geneva during May 1998. This prestigious appointment reaffirms Bahrain's status and its scientific contributions within the field of medical science. Meanwhile, Bahrain has adopted the World Health Organisation slogan: "Health for all by 2000" and has put the words to practice by succeeding in extending elementary medical services to provide 100 percent of coverage throughout the entire country.
In 1996 there were four government hospitals and three private hospitals in addition to the military hospital. Also there were 19 government medical centres and five maternity centres. The total investment in the health sector in 1998 was BD 58 million.
Promoting the interests of young people also falls within the remit of the Youth and Sports Authority which develops youth and sports programmes aimed at training young people to meet the challenges of adulthood. The Authority also includes under its wings, the Junior Science Clubs, which in turn surprise child and youth science centres, together with the Sulman Cultural Centre for children.
The Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs has identified the following objectives in relation to its work: (a) to contribute in achieving the socio-economic development; (b) to contribute in extending social security benefits; (c) to contribute in providing nationals with appropriate jobs and (d) to increase productivity. The Ministry has also been working to promote Bahrain as a regional centre for training and developing human resources. In this capacity it has updated and extended its centre to provide a capacity of 5500 trainees. The Higher Council for Vocational Training has also been involved in the training field, qualifying more than 10,528 Bahrain workers over the last 16 years. Meanwhile the Ministry itself stimulated a number of new local community development programmes through improving and vitalising the roles of the 17 social centres spread throughout Bahrain
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