Behind Bahrain’s drive for better education…

Dr. Jawaher Al Mushaki

Manama, (Bahrain): Bahrain has decided to cleanse up their higher education system by culling pedestrian institution, rectifying current sub-standard practices and infrastructure of various institutions and raising the quality of teachers….But behind all this drive, one lady is sitting at the driver’s seat. And it is other than Dr. Jawaher Al Mudhaki, CEO of National Authority for Qualifications and Quality Assurance of Education and Training (QAAET).

QAAET is the statutory body charged with providing the highest quality of education and training in Bahrain by reviewing and analysing the performance of educational establishments, organising national exams, redressing weaknesses and building on strengths at schools and higher educational institutions to reach set national goals.


In its first round survey of educational institutions of Bahrain, QAAET has revealed many disturbing realities. The QAAET report concluded that several schools and universities are failing their students. Out of 20 public and private institutions reviewed, three were deemed ‘inadequate’, 13 ‘satisfactory’ and four ‘good’, while none achieved the highest level possible. Two out of four higher education courses analysed also received ‘no confidence’ judgements, with the other two courses receiving ‘limited confidence’ rulings. Vocational institutions were also slammed in the nationwide evaluation scheme, with 50 percent deemed ‘inadequate’.

The message of QAAET is clear that institutions of Bahrain should raise the quality bar of their pedagogy, infrastructure and syllabus.

Life of Dr. Jawaher Al-Mudhahki

Before electing as Chief Executive of the National Authority for Qualifications and Quality Assurance of Education and Training(QAAET), Dr. Jawaher Al-Mudhahki has begun her career at the University of Bahrain in January 1988, where she held several academic and Administrative positions. She has been the Vice-President for Administration and Financial Affairs, of University of Bahrain. She also had carried the post of advisor to the president for Finance and Administrative Affairs of University of Bahrain for four years.

Dr Al-Mudhahki is an active member in a number of boards for several national and regional institutions including the Association of Quality Assurance Agencies of the Islamic World (AQAAIW), the Arab Network for Quality Assurance in Higher Education (ANQAAHE). She is a Panel member in the Committee of nominating the ‘Award of HH-Chair of the Supreme Council for Women- to Empower Bahraini Women’.

Dr Al-Mudhahki was also the editor in chief of the Arab Journal of Accounting and a board member of the Accounting and Auditing Authority in the GCC, the Supreme Council for Women, the Higher Education Council, the Academics Association and the Bahraini Accounting Association.



Dr Al-Mudhahki earned her bachelor's degree in Accounting (1985) from the University of Bahrain. She continued her further studies as she received her master's degree in accounting from the University of Denver (USA). After experiencing teaching at the University of Bahrain, she obtained her doctorate degree in Accounting (1996) from the University of Exeter (UK).