(Dr. Syed Mehboob, Karachi)
Youth are very important segment of any society and those countries who give them due importance, equip them with values, ethics, education, technical training, provide them guidance and facilitate them, no doubt they progress, prosper and develop phenomenally.
Oman is a fortunate country that it’s farsighted, dedicated and committed leadership know this fact and giving due importance to its youth. His Majesty Sultan Haitham has a progressive mind and visionary person. He is very keen and concerned for the welfare of youth and for gaining of their prospect employment. He introduced number of initiatives for them and made a comprehensive plan to provide employment to 32,000 youth during 2021.Given that no development process can survive except on a basis of soundly established science, His Majesty Sultan Haitham has taken a direct interest in the quality demonstrated at every level of the educational system, placing education in high in the hierarchy of national priorities “. He has advocated for a supportive and stimulating environment for scientific research and innovation, going so far as to assign to the erstwhile Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research a portfolio for innovation. He has also overseen the establishment of the University of Technology and Applied Sciences, with branches in the governorates, the academic mandate of which was published in June 2021. Also, in June 2021, the Council of Ministers decided to establish a branch of the University in Musandam Governorate, with faculties focusing on certain specializations. In September 2021, Duqm College in Alwusta was established inside the special economic zone. Meanwhile the National Strategy for Scientific Research and Development 2040 lays out a clear strategy aligns with the vision of Oman 2040.
Education is the mean by which a society develops, strengthens and prospers. It is now main driver of sustainable development, as the instrument that instigates the change in human thought patterns and nurtures the ability to expand thinking lately. The Ministry of education is fully committed to raising the quality and effectiveness of its education policies in line with global charges. Its overall mission is to oversee a system of curricula and programmes that accomplish the optimal development of young minds. His Majesty Sultan Haitham has placed education front and center of broad government strategy. The Ministry of Education is especially considerate of the requirements of students with special need, and offers many services school goers challenged by disability, including integration programmes and supports for learning disabilities. In the year 2021-22 school year, there were 383 merged classes an increase of 85 over the previous year.
For the year 2021-22 school year, the Ministry of Education has focused as customary attention on the education of pre-school Children with preparatory classes 1 to 4 opened: -
No of Schools 47
No of Students 1,066
Departments 56
Volunteers Teachers 67
For public school education grade 1-12, the Ministry pledged to ensure the fulfilment of educational services in all governorates, as the national students population grows strongly
Departments 23,471
Students 678,359
Teachers 56,827
Government Schools 1,182
Administrative and technical staff 10,746
370 kindergartens with
Monolingual Schools 339
Bilingual Schools 31
292 Private Schools with
Monolingual private schools 109
Bilingual private schools 157
International Schools 26
In Oman third level represents the highest degree of educational endeavor, and encompasses all academic levels above the secondary, whether delivered by a university or by other advanced educational institutions concerned with academic scholarship, training, or scientific research. Higher education is crucial in the preparation of high aspirational, qualified national cadres capable of effective participation in the national development process. The establishment of Ministry of Higher Education, Scientific Research and Innovation brings attention to the importance of these sectors building well rounded human beings, people are the very raison deter of the development process, and their evolution is the principal indicator of its progress. The need for focus on these areas of advancement has never been more important in the context of goals envisioned in Oman 2040. Institutions of higher education and scientific research have become hubs for cultural and scientific decision-making primary resources in the search for strategic direction, and incubators for the enlightened minds that will advance the balanced progress of the country and of the national economy. The Electronic admission system managers registration and admission to institutions of higher education and allocates scholarships and grants. The scope of the work of the Unified Admissions Centre has expanded over the years and it now supervises four main programmes.
Statistics Place numbers for 2021-22 academic year
Undergraduate level 33,577
Educational Diploma Places 730
Places on Omani Programme for cultural and scientific cooperation 57
The Private Higher Education Sector in the Sultanate is witnessing rapid growth, in terms of both the number and quality of established third level institutions, as well as in their graphical distribution. The diversity of the courses on offer broadens with every passing year, as does their network of connections in the outside the Sultanate. There are twenty-seven private third level institutions in the sultanate, 9 universities and 18 private sector colleges. Most of these institutions have managed to achieve their aspirations to move to permanent buildings. So far 23 have done so, or the equivalent of 80% of the total. The campuses that house them were developed in accordance with established standard and controls as approved by the Ministry, which require modern design and high-quality facilities. This criterion has reflected positively in attracting students and gone a long way towards changing public attitudes to private education sector generally. The Ministry of Higher Education Scientific Research and Innovation is devoting resources to raising the overall quality of higher education in these institutions, through legislation, regulations, controls and procedures, most notably those focused on the quality of academic programmes provided, and on the appointment of administrative and academic cadres. At stake is the imperative that the labour market and development process are fed with a regular supply of well qualified graduates.
During 2021-22 academic year, the focus was on expanding the number of scholarship places assigned to the disciplines of sports studies, science, technology and engineering, management social studies and education, Under the policy rolled out, students are given opportunities to choose their study destination and university based on their academic achievements and personal aspirations. This flexibility is seen as beneficial to the psychological well being of scholarship students, enabling them to focus on excellence in their academic studies. The Ministry has also made available several internal scholarships, namely a bachelor’s programme open to public competition, diploma programme for students.
Women are specially encouraged to get education and employment of their choice, there are several scholarships are available for them as well.
In addition, nine special study programmes have been introduced for students challenged by disability, and the competition terms have been modified for them to suit their respective circumstances.
In 2021 Global Innovation Index where it advanced 8 positions to 76th place globally. The Index recognized the Sultanate’s progress in the innovation categories, raising as ranking by 19 points in innovation output, and 1 point in innovation input. The sultanate also scored well in a number of sub-indicators, including first place globally in the percentage of science and engineering graduates to total graduates and tenth globally in the higher education index. This progress reflects the Sultanate’s efforts to enhance the domestic research and innovation environment.
To be continued