(Interview with Professor Fatima Al-Belooshi of Bahrain University) (650) A senior official of Bahrain's Monetary Agency and the chairman of the Educational Technology Department of Bahrain University, Fatima Al-Belooshi, says Bahrain has a long tradition of educating women, a key element in the Gulf country's modernization programs. In an interview with Washington File writer-editor Phillip Kurata at the World Economic Forum meeting on the shores of the Dead Sea in Jordan June 21, Al-Belooshi said women account for about 70 percent of Bahrain's university students, but fill only about 20 percent of the country's jobs. She also talked about Bahraini women's efforts to break through the "glass ceiling" in employment opportunities and Bahrain's work with other Arab countries to enhance the status of women. Following is the transcript of the Al-Belooshi interview: (begin transcript) Washington File (WF): Professor Al-Belooshi, would you talk about your work involving the empowerment of women as it relates to Bahrain's reforms? Al-Belooshi: Thank you. I'll talk about two issues -- women and the role of education in promoting a better economy. Bahrain, since the beginning of the last century, was a leader in the Gulf in education, especially the education of women. Bahraini women are among the most educated women in the Gulf region and the Middle East. We had the first schools that were established for women in the Gulf area and Bahraini women were among the first in the region to go abroad to study at university. Now in Bahrain, women account for 70 percent of the students at university. Recent reforms in Bahrain helped advance the role of women even more. One of the greatest achievements is the establishment of The Supreme Council for Women as an advisory council for His Majesty, the King. It helps women achieve the fulfillment of their rights and encourages men to be proud of women. Because of their high education, women are a great asset for Bahrain, but they account for only 20 percent of the labor force. The issue we are focusing on is to provide women with better training and more specialized education. We want more chances for women for continuous education, specializing in various aspects of finance, which is the field that I work in. WF: Do women in Bahrain face a "glass ceiling" in their careers? Al-Belooshi: Definitely, there is a glass ceiling. For a long time, we have been talking about glass ceilings. Because of the reforms, women have begun to rise to decision-making positions. As a result of these reforms, we are very hopeful that we will be able to break through the glass ceiling. I think that time is needed for women to prove themselves and for decision-makers to promote women and to start believing in them. We now have the first woman to become a CEO of a bank. This is a great achievement. It is also a woman who heads the Supreme Council for Women and she has the rank of a minister. We have the first woman to be president of Bahrain's national university. Those are great achievements for women. We think that with time, women will prove themselves and will fill many more high positions. WF: Is Bahrain providing guidance to other Arab countries interested in implementing reforms to empower women? Al-Belooshi: In the 1950's, Bahrain established its first organizations related to increasing the status of women. They have generated lots of feminist activities aimed at promoting the rights of women and women's suffrage. Bahrain has been a role model for Arab countries. It has played a very serious role in establishing institutions that deal with women and collaboration with other Middle Eastern countries. Bahrain's role in promoting the status of women is strongly supported by Sabika bint Ibrahim Al-Khalifa, the wife of the King.