The Education Project

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Go to the link below for information on an exciting inaugural conference to be held in Bahrain in October.
http://www.educationprojectbahrain.org/

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There will be two pages of information on The Education Project in the Term Four issue of Good Teacher Magazine to be uploaded on the first day of Term 4.
There will be a list of the outstanding speakers attending and information on the aims of the conference. You can also go to...
http://www.educationprojectbahrain.org to find out more.

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The Education Project (Bahrain) is featured on pages 8 and 9 in the latest edition of Good Teacher Magazine. Keep checking this website for updates.

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Leaving for Bahrain tomorrow..
A long trip and not away from New Zealand for many days but the content of the Conference looks too exciting to miss.
It's almost a shame that you have to chose what to attend as there are occasions where spliting in two would be a convenient skill.
Hope to keep you posted as the days progress.

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The Education Project
Many of the international delegates are staying at the Gulf Hotel... a beautiful palatial hotel, and a centre that is obviously used for meetings of businessmen from all over the region. We were ferried in groups to the Isa Cultural centre which adjoins the new National Library. There, as you can see from the photos, is where the conference will be running for the next two full-on days. The preparations have been extensive and the venue is superb. There is no doubt that The Education Project is happening... red carpet and all... and what an event to showcase the rich and diverse culture which goes to make up Bahrain.
This evening there is an informal reception and welcome for the international delegates from Shaikh Mohammed bin Essa Al Khalifa Chief Executive of the Bahrain Economic Development Board
Today was the only day offering time to get out and experience any of Bahrain... so of course we went to the Souk... loosely translated it equates to a lot of tiny shops many offering similar goods... which are in rabbit warren like streets... and believe me there was very little air in there this afternoon. However scarves were cheap if you were prepared to bargain and walk away if you couldn’t get what you wanted... and I helped a fellow Project attendee buy material and scarves for his wife and daughter... pretty brave of him to even consider buying such things I thought, especially in the face of persistent salesmen who “know exactly what you want to buy”!

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Friday morning at the venue... we all traipse into the plenary hall which must be acknowledged as a magnificent place... Purpose completed as part of a building built in honour of the current King’s late father the luxury of the surroundings is impressive. The event is being filmed as the local television company seem to (from watching the hotel tv) report anything of note which involved members of the royal family. To Bahrain this conference is a major event and one which we were told at the dinner last night which they intend to make an annual event though the word project in the name may be changed.. as we were told a project is finite it has a beginning and an end while education is not finite but continues forever... so the project will perpetuate but under a more appropriate moniker.
The senior and obviously influential (from the number of photos being taken) of the local ministry and royalty are present as we wait for the formal part of the proceedings. Lined up along the front row....I’m not sure of the quality of the photos I’ll be able to take but will possibly have to work on them at home when I return...

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Read the final report about the 2009 Education Project Conference in Bahrain in the Term One 2010 issue of Good Teacher Magazine (page 8). It includes links to related sites, video, powerpoints and photographs from the inaugural conference.