Student Population
The total number of students in State education is around 560,000 of whom nearly half are female. There are presently 132 private schools in Oman, educating some 25,000 students.
Children with Special needs
The Ministry of Education makes special arrangements for the education of some 600 children who are blind, deaf and dumb or have other learning difficulties and are therefore unable to attend normal school. The Ministry is keen to increase the number of special needs schools of which there are currently only three in the entire Sultanate. Some are sent to an appropriate establishment in neighbouring countries.
Teaching Staff
Over the past few years with the introduction of teacher training, the government has opened 6 training institutes. Currently around 9,000 students are studying at the six colleges. Oman proudly presents good quality, qualified teachers into its schools and there are almost 30,000 teachers employed in government-run schools. The Ministry is making strenuous and concerted efforts to replace expatriates at all levels with trained Omani teachers. At primary school level, nearly all the teaching staff are Omanis.
Private Schools
The Government has encouraged the growth of private schools in the Sultanate and welcomes the contribution made by the private sector to the education system. In the year 2000 there were 132 private schools and kindergartens in the Sultanate providing pre-school, primary, preparatory and secondary education. Private school owners must be of Omani nationality and have at least a secondary school certificate. Private schools follow the same curriculum as Government schools and hold the same examinations.
Private Colleges
The Ministry encourages the private sector to establish colleges and institutes of higher education. There are 14 privately owned Colleges of Higher Education which operate under license from the Ministry of Higher Education and are at different stages of development. Three of these are designated University Colleges: Caledonian College of Engineering, Majan College and Sur University College. All 14 are affiliated to Universities in the UK, USA, Australia or India. The existing provision for higher education is still insufficient, which means that a considerable number of Omanis go abroad for their post-secondary education. The amalgamation of certain colleges to form three new universities is being talked about at present.
There are at least 20 Further Education colleges and institutes in the Sultanate. The majority of subjects are taught in the English language hence there is a growing demand for English language courses. Oman has a very strong Omanisation policy and the government is aiming for 100% Omanisation of the teaching force by 2005. These colleges offer post-secondary education in business administration, economics, commerce and computer sciences. The diplomas awarded at the end of one to three year courses qualify the students to enter overseas universities.
The first women's college in Oman, the Mazoon College for Management and Applied Sciences, opened during 1999. This was followed by Al-Zahra College for Girls.
Adult Education
Adult education operates in parallel with the regular education system allowing advanced courses and examinations to be taken. Great importance is attached to allowing those who, for one reason or another, have been unable to complete their education to continue with their studies.
The role of the Ministry of Higher Education
The Ministry of Higher Education supervises all other higher education institutions and is responsible for overseas students, for formulating higher education policies and administering the Law on Grants & Scholarships.
During this Five-Year Plan (2001-2006), the Ministry intends to set up a Marine Sciences College in Dhofar and a Higher Institute of Arts at Sohar. A Higher Judicial Institute at Nizwa is planned to prepare students to become judges and legal advisers on a two-year post-graduate programme for which a higher diploma will be awarded.
It is also hoped to raise the level of intermediate Teachers' Colleges to the standards of the College of Education in order to ease the pressure on Sultan Qaboos University. There are six teacher training colleges in Oman, four of which are for men at Nizwa, Sur, Sohar and Salalah and two for women at Rustaq and Ibri.
Teaching of English
The teaching of English has assumed increasing importance in recent years. Children start to learn English as a first second language from entrance level in many schools, however, government-run schools start at around 7 years. Acquiring a good level of the English language is necessary particularly in higher education colleges where science-based courses are conducted in that language.
Sultan Qaboos University(SQU)
The Sultan Qaboos University, which is situated at Al Khoudh, some 50 kms west of Muscat, opened in 1986. There are currently some 12.000 students at the University. The university has faculties for Medicine, Engineering, Science, Agriculture, Arts, Commerce and Economics, and Islamic Sciences. The Government also funds a limited number of places at overseas universities and has licensed US and UK universities to set up programmes in Oman.
Sultan Qaboos University Hospital
The 500-bed teaching hospital, which opened in 1989, has a staff establishment of over one thousand. There are 200 academic staff and some 800 supporting staff. The hospital has advanced diagnostic equipment and specialist departments for paediatrics, gynaecology, internal diseases, surgery, psychiatry, cardiac diseases and out-patients department. The hospital serves as the principal training centre for Omani doctors.
Students Overseas
In year 2002 there were over 20,000 Omani students, of whom just over half were women, studying at universities in forty-five different countries.
