In line with the 11th meeting of the GCC eGovernment Executive Committee hosted by the Kingdom of 
The ceremony was held under the patronage of Lieutenant General Dr. Shaikh Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Khalifa the Minister of State for Defense Affairs and Chairman of AlHekma Society for the Retired, along with the presence of society’s Vice Chairman Saeed Al Sammak, eGovernment Authority CEO Mohammad Ali Al Qaed, the authority’s senior management members including Director of HR Finance & Capacity Building Directorate Fahad Al-Qadhi, Capability Building team in addition to a number of the society’s board members.
During the visit, GCC delegates explored Bahrain’s experience in eliminating computer illiteracy through the number of eGovernment projects, namely the Capability Building for eTraining which includes an integrated program designed to improve citizens’ knowledge and skills in using the computer, surfing the internet as well as the general eServices and those provided via the eGovernment portal in particular. In addition to specialized training programs aiming to bridge the gap through specialized knowledge and skills, and other initiatives that are designed to provide necessary infrastructure and implement some programs for the new graduates.
During the presentation, GCC delegates were acquainted with the framework within which the Capability Building program department is functioning, its current and prospective objectives embodied in the preparation and creation of the Capability Building program and its components, the way in which the program interacts with various departments and directorates, as well as the program’s future plans in the Kingdom.
Dr. Shaikh Mohammad, patron of the ceremony, welcomed the GCC delegates and extended his gratitude to the eGovernment Authority for its tangible efforts in the field of eliminating computer illiteracy within the society, stressing the importance of GCC cooperation in relation to eGovernment programs as well as the exchange of successful skills and experiences in this arena.
“Qudurat eTraining program represents one of the national projects carried out by the authority as part of the new national eGovernment strategy 2016,” Al Qaed, said.
“This is the third graduation ceremony, organized by AlHekma Society for the Retired, to graduate trainees from the Qudurat program in cooperation with the eGovernment Authority. The two previous batches, 560 citizens were graduated. This batch will proudly graduate 186 citizens who are able to – as of now – interact with cyberspace,” he added.
“Qudurat program aims to provide training for 5,000 citizens each year from among various age groups and from both genders within the Kingdom. In 2012, almost 4,700 citizens were trained in seven properly equipped computer labs. Knowingly, we have opened – in cooperation with GOYS – new labs in Al Riffa Club, Al Qadisiya Youth Center and Sanad Youth Center; with a total of seven labs so far. With respect to the new plan of the Capability Building department,” Al Qaed said, adding that five computer labs will be inaugurated so that the total number of labs established by the eGovernment Authority reaches 12 before 2014.
GCC delegates praised Bahrain’s experience in its aim to bridge the digital gap, with the partnership of various governmental entities and the civil society, in order to build an informatics literate society through the provision of a sufficient pool of computer-basics trained individuals.
The event took place during the visit of the GCC delegates, who included heads of GCC eGovernment authorities, to a number of pioneering national organizations to learn more about the country’s major developments in the IT and telecommunication field.