More Bahrainis are to be trained in political development, to help push forward the country's reforms, under a United Nations scheme.

The UN Democracy Fund has allocated more than $300,000 towards the project.

The training programme is being implemented by the UN Development Programme (UNDP) in co-ordination with the Bahrain Institute for Political Development (BIPD), said UN resident co-ordinator and UNDP resident representative Sayed Aqa.

BIPD has been established at the directives of His Majesty King Hamad, to help implement his reforms agenda, Aqa told the Gulf Daily News, our sister newspaper.

"Under the project, we provide training to Bahrainis interested in political development," said Aqa.

"About 70 Bahrainis, from the government, political societies and the private sector, have already completed a one-year diploma programme.

"The training during the evening hours was conducted by two full-time professors and some visiting professors."

The graduates, half of them women, were presented with certificates last month by Shura Council chairman Ali Saleh Al Saleh.

"The course has become popular and there is a heavy demand for the second course," said Aqa.

"Classes for the second batch will start shortly. We are in contact with some international universities to grant accreditation to the programme.

"The course is the first of its kind to be introduced in the region. There has also been some demands for shorter courses," he said.

Experts from the University of Alexandria and University of Cairo will be in Bahrain to conduct the classes, said Aqa.

Besides several topics related to political science, regional case studies will be presented, he revealed.

"The course is aimed at helping participants to take up politics seriously and objectively," said Aqa. "It also helps to make them more knowledgeable in the area of political development.

"It will help them become effective parliamentarians and improve their media management skills."

Aqa said UNDP is also working with various political societies. "As part of this initiative, we conducted two workshops on national unity," he revealed.

"Participants discussed several developmental issues. This has provided them with civic education so that they can work effectively with people.

"The workshops focused on the rights and obligations of members of political societies." -TradeArabia News Service