EDUCATION IN OMAN

Story of Success1970 –

2009

OMAN ON THE MAP

OMAN AT A GLANCE

Head of State: His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said (since 1970)Area: 309,500 square kilometerCapital: MuscatNational Resources: petroleum, natural gas, chrome, limestone, marble, decorative stone, silica, lead, iron, dolomite and copperPopulation : 2,340,815 (2003)Population growth : 18.4 per 1000 personsCurrency: Omani Rial (OR) or 1,000 baizas = US$2.58GDP: RO 8,342.8 m (2003)National day: 18th of NovemberRenaissance Day: 23rd of JulyAdministrative regions : Four governorates , five regions and 61wilayats.

STATISTICS

The Health & Education sectors are the basic constitutes of sustainable development in general and human development in particular

Item 1970 1990 2009 Average Annual Rate of Growth (%)

Hospitals (No.) 4 52 60 7.2

Health centers (No.) 19 94 172 5.8

Doctors (No.) 13 1579 5563 16.8

Other Health Staff (No.) - 8854 2743

1

12.4

Health exp. As a % of Total Gov. Exp. 6.0 3.9 4.5 -

Doctors (Per 10000 population) 0.1 9.0 17 20.6

Death Rates Per (1000 population) 8 3.0 -

Infant mortality Rate (Per 1000 live births)

118 29 10 -

Under 5 mortality Rate (Per 1000 live births)

181 35 12 -

Life Expectancy at Birth (Years) 49.3 66.5 72.7 -

HEALTH

Item 1970 1990 2009 Average Annual Rate of Growth (%)

General Education

Schools (No.) 3 779 1040 16.2Students (000) 0.9 356 531 17.8Classes (No.) - 10665 19399 6.0Teachers (No.) 30 15121 44506 20.6Students/Teachers (No.) - 24 12 -Students Class (No.) - 33 27 -Current Expenditures (Mn. R.O)

0.5* 124.3 578.1 19.8

Investment Expenditure (Mn. RO)

0.8* 11.2 51.9 11.3

Education Exp. As a % of total Govt. Exp.

2.8* 7.2 8.5

EDUCATION

Item 1970 1990 2009 Average Annual Rate of Growth (%)

Private EducationSchools (No.) - 3 342 17.7

Students (000) - 0.6 56 16.9

Classes (No.) - 3084 -

Teachers (No.) - 40 4489 17.7

Higher EducationNo. Students enrolled

- 6.888 100233 17.5

ILLITERACY RATE

1970 1993 2003 2010

65,7 % 42% 22% 12%

GENDER EQUITY

year 1970 1980 1990 2005

Female students

470 35190 165,975 275,597

Male students

3008 71742 190011 292,477

Percentage (females /

males)

0.16 0.49 0.87 0.94

WHAT LED TO THIS SUCCESS?

1-

SOLID POLITICAL WILL

“Our country has been deprived for a very long period of time from education, which is considered

as the base for administrative and technical efficiency...starting from this fact, educating and

training our people should start as soon as possible”

H.M Sultan Qaboos bin Said9 August 1970

2-

NOT WORDS BUT DEEDS

3-

USE OF AVAILABLE RESOURCES

1970

2009

1970

2009

4-

A STRATEGIC VISION

The First Future Vision 1976 –

1995-

Oman Future Economic Vision 1996 -

2020

THE OBJECTIVES1

Development of human resources, and upgrading Omanis skills and competences to keep abreast with technological progress; to manage the dynamics of this progress in a highly efficient way; and to face the ever-changing domestic and global conditions.

2Creation of a stable macroeconomic framework aimed at the development of a private sector capable of the optimal use of human and natural resources of the Sultanate in an efficient and ecologically- sound way.

3Encouraging the establishment of an effective and competitive private sector; and consolidation of the mechanisms and institutions that will foster shared visions, strategies and policies between the private sector and Government.

4Providing appropriate conditions for the realization of economic diversification, and striving toward the optimal use of natural resources and the geo-strategic location of the Sultanate.

5Enhancing the standard of living of the Omani people; reduction of inequality among regions and among income levels of various groups; and ensuring that the fruits of development are shared by all citizens.

5-

FIVE YEAR PLANSThe vision and the plans are based on:-

Situation analysis –

studies –

surveys –

conferences and meetings with all the stake holders-

H.M Directives

- Oman Basic Law-

A comprehensive document produced by MOE

on the philosophy and objectives of Education The plans are evaluated annually

6-

LEARNING FROM OTHERS' EXPERIENCES

Qatar: Curricula

Egypt – Jordan – Sudan – Tunisia – UK …etc: Teachers Training and Technical Support

7-

PARTNERSHIPSCivil Society : Parent Council

Private Sector

Organizations : UNESCO – ALESCO

Intersectoral Approach

8-

TRAINING NATIONAL HUMAN RESOURCES

On the local and international levels:-

Teachers institutes

-

Scholarships

A continues technical support to the teachers

9-

QUALITY IMPROVEMENTEarly focus on high quality developmental projects (since 1996)

Measures introduced to improve quality:1.

Allocating significant financial resources to build new schools.2.

Reducing class size.3.

Increasing instruction time.4.

Introducing a more relevant curriculum.5.

Restructuring classroom management to allow a student –

centered approach to teaching and leering.

6.

Implementing a more appropriate developmental system through the introduction of continues and formative assessment of methods.

7.

Improving the learning environment in schools through access to computer and media board leaving resources.

8.

Curriculum development.9.

Improving the methods of teaching

10-

ADMINISTRATION Integration of Centralization and Decentralization

School Self Administration