Minister of Education launches BIsB Computer Lab for the Blind

The lab is the first voice aided state of the art computer lab that is dedicated to the blind in the Kingdom of Bahrain.

This launch of the BIsB Computer Lab in the premises of SBIB is part of the Bank's support to blind students and as a donation to the start of the second term of the Institute's academic year. It is an expression of the BIsB's belief in the significance of information technology in furthering the lives of people in general and students in particular. On the other hand, it will represent a qualitative transformation in the methods and quality of conveying educational materials to the students after the launch of this new Lab.

On this occasion, Mr. Yousif Saleh Khalaf, BIsB CEO said "We are pleased today with the opening of this computer lab which is the fruit of a series of donations contributed by BIsB for various purposes and causes in the Kingdom."

"We are pleased with this donation which is considered as a message of thanks and appreciation to the people who have dedicated themselves to serve their brethren who are unable to see. With their patience, hard work and efforts, the blind in the Kingdom have been able to enjoy a high level of education and qualification which means that their inability to see has not prevented them from academic advancement." Mr. Khalaf added.

It should be noted that BIsB has numerous contributions to serve various humanitarian and social causes. Its computer lab donation is only part of its continuous commitment to serve community members with special needs with the aim of improving living conditions of blind students.

The Bank's support to SBIB through this computer laboratory comes as a form of assistance by the Bank in educating the blind by having access to the Internet and attempting to achieve the optimum benefit from the worldwide web. To achieve this, the lab has been provided with specialized software for the blind enabling them to listen to websites. The software enables the translation of the material from written texts into audio material allowing a blind student to use the computer and to access the Internet without help from others.

Commenting on the donation, SBIB Principal Mr. A. Wahid Mohd Al Khayat said, "First of all, I would like to seize this opportunity to express my sincere thanks and appreciation to BIsB led by its CEO Mr. Yousif Saleh Khalaf for their continuous support for the students with special needs in general and its invaluable assistance to SBIB in particular."

"This kind gesture by BIsB is not the first of its kind to the Bank as SBIB has been accustomed in every year to get generous donations from the Bank enabling it to continue to provide its services to blind students. Perhaps the setting up of this state of the art lab will give the opportunity to our blind students to learn how to browse the Internet like their counterparts who are not blind." Mr. Alkhayat added.

It should be noted that SBIB is considered as the first institution of its kind in the Kingdom of Bahrain and has been active in the Kingdom for the last 32 years. It is considered as one of the pioneering institutes in the GCC states.

The Institute focuses on carrying out various projects for the blind. SBIB provides activities for education, training and qualification of blind students using the most advanced technologies for those with sight impairment and provides specialized staff for this purpose. It looks after the affairs that concern blind students in the Ministry of Education's schools in addition to continuously seeking to provide suitable job opportunities and to ensure their integration in the community. The number of SBIB graduates exceeds several hundreds from the Kingdom of Bahrain, other GCC states and Arab and Islamic countries.

There are many blind students, of both sexes, from various parts of the region attending courses in SBIB. Some of its graduates are attending post-graduate courses in the United States, United Kingdom, Syria and other countries.