A pioneering national training initiative for 240 bright Bahrainis in cybersecurity and advanced information technology has been launched.

The new three-year programme, which will begin next month, will see 80 nationals receiving intensive training every year at the Information and eGovermment Authority (iGA).

They will be paid BD400 monthly during the training period. Thirty will then be selected for posts within the iGA and 50 in the private sector with monthly salaries likely to exceed BD800.

The Technical Development Programme initiative was launched yesterday by Labour Minister Jameel Humaidan at the Public Security Officers’ Club in Gudaibiya. Present was iGA chief executive Mohammed Al Qaed, who came up with the proposal.

“There is a huge labour market demand for Bahrainis qualified in cybersecurity and advanced information technology,” said Mr Humaidan.

“So this initiative by iGA to provide training across its departments and facilities over a year for 80 Bahrainis will be a big step in the right direction.”

He believes that the new scheme will compliment other training initiatives such as the Foras (Chances) programme that allows university graduate jobseekers to undertake bridging courses at Bahrain Polytechnic and other training institutes.

Alternative schemes currently being appraised may eventually provide an expansion to existing projects following due diligence, evaluation and assessment, he added.

Mr Al Qaed is confident that producing highly-trained Bahrainis in the sector will also make recruitment easier.

“The initiative should save time, effort and money when it comes to finding suitable candidates both for iGA and the private sector,” he said.

“We have vacancies that are currently being filled by expatriates due to a shortage of suitably-skilled and knowledgeable local candidates.

“On-the-job training should ensure that highly-qualified Bahrainis progress in their chosen career and help meet the demand for their skills.”

A special panel will decide which division the lucky candidates who join the scheme will be allotted to. Potential candidates will be interviewed at the start of the process and the top 80 chosen.

Labour Ministry training and manpower development director Dr Essam Al Alawi added that the panel will have Civil Service Commission and private sector representation amongst other specialists.

“We already have a database of jobseekers who appear to fill the requirements so they will be automatically fed to the panel alongside those who apply,” he said. “There will be a transparent professional selection and follow-up process.”

Meanwhile, iGA training and development chief Karima Al Awadhi said the move will likely increase Bahrainisation in the private sector up to 43 per cent and 78pc in the public sector.

“It will reduce the number of expats by 3pc in the private sector and 8pc in the public sector,” she confidently suggested.

There are 6,532 employees currently in the field.

The door is now open for Bahrainis aged between 21 and 30 with ‘high-grade’ Bachelor degrees in information technology, or any related field, who are registered in any of the Labour Ministry programmes or are under the Unemployment Fund payroll. Registration is open on www.IGA.gov.bh

mohammed@gdnmedia.bh

© Copyright 2022 www.gdnonline.com