In line with the rapid political changes in Bahrain, and the constitutional reforms introduced by His Majesty Sheikh Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, King of Bahrain, Minister of Education Dr Moha-mmed Al Ghatam has pledged to offer the newly-declared Kingdom's students a type of education that would address issues of the new democratic era.

"Bahrain has embarked on an era of democracy, administrative transparency and frank dialogue. We need to build trust and means of cooperation in order to give our students the kind of education that suits these goals," Fareed Ahmed Hassan, Director of the ministry's Public Relations quoted the minister as saying during a meeting Dr. Al Ghatam had held with the recently-established Teachers' Association (TA).

He promised to give the TA a bigger role in cooperation with the ministry in developing the kind of education needed in the Kingdom in line with the recent democratic changes, Hassan told Gulf News.

The minister and members of the TA discussed the relation between the ministry and the association, established in October last year, and Dr. Al Ghatam ordered the establishment of a joint committee to study various issues and to take into consideration the opinions and suggestions of the TA regarding the educational process and improving the working conditions of teachers, added Hassan.

Meanwhile, teachers in Bahrain went back to class on Monday to learn how to protect the island's environment.

A seminar for agriculture teachers on designing school gardens, conserving water and the latest gardening techniques aimed to ensure that they were able to promote environmental friendly practices in school and amongst their students.

The participants, who also included officials from other ministries, were introduced to the latest developments in the agricultural field, planting techniques, how to combat plant disease and effective watering methods.

The event, entitled Challenges of Water and Agriculture, was held at the Education Ministry Hall in Isa Town. It was organised by the ministry's general services directorate and held under the patronage of Dr Al Ghatam.

It was attended by Education Undersecretary Dr Hussein Assadah and officials from the Education Ministry, Housing and Agriculture Ministry, Municipa-lities and Environmental Affairs Ministry and Electricity and Water Ministry.