NEW SCHOOL
Oman's education sector has made massive strides in recent years, and moving forward, government officials see improving teacher quality and increasing international exchange as keys to giving a young and growing population the tools they need for the future.
Like its neighbors on the Arabian Peninsula, Oman is working to increase educational attainment as a part of its wider goal of building a more diversified and sustainable economy. To build a broader knowledge base, the Omani government is taking actions to raise standards by forming international partnerships to bolster the relatively new university system, opening new educational institutions to increase access for rural communities, and setting new national standards to ensure that the Sultanate's students remain adequately prepared for the world. Oman's education policy decisions are imbued with a particular urgency due to its demographics; almost half of all Omani citizens are under the age of 20, and with the population expected to double within the next 30 years, the decisions the Omani government makes today will have an immense effect on the development of the Sultanate.
Oman offers free non-compulsory education to all students through the age of 18. Public schools are divided into Basic and Post-Basic cycles that offer classes through grade 12 and then a Continuing Education cycle that offers three-year literacy and adult education programs for citizens who did not complete primary education. Oman's Ministry of Education also oversees a growing private school sector that includes international, technical, and religious schools. Since the ascension of Sultan Qaboos bin Said Al Said in 1970, the Omani education system has made significant concrete gains as measured in enrollment, literacy, and performance on international standardized testes. Net enrollment of 98% helped the adult literacy rate reach 98.4% in 2015, and according to World Bank statistics, Oman's youth literacy rate of 99.1% is among the best in the region, with female literacy and educational attainment on par with men's. Oman has also seen the percentage of GED holders rise from 7.3% in 1993 to well over 36% as of 2010.
These statistics are even more noteworthy considering that the entire economy had only three schools in 1970, none of which admitted women. Today, more than half a million students are enrolled in more than a thousand public schools, with just under half of all enrolling women. Heavy government investment has created not just near-universal access to education but a system that has become Omani-run and operated, with more than 89% of all public school instructors Omani and 65% of these teachers women. International institutions have recognized the speed and scale of this transformation, but the Omani government has publicly acknowledged that further work needs to be done to ensure that the nation remains technologically on par with the rest of the world. After achieving universal access, the Ministry of Education has begun work on a set of curriculum standard initiatives. Two particular areas of emphasis are improving teacher quality and technological access; new curriculum models implemented in 2011 for 11th and 12th graders are designed to build new STEM competencies and increase familiarity with technology.
A similar narrative is underway in the Omani higher education system, which, like its primary and secondary counterparts, is relatively young but has seen tremendous growth over the past few decades. The Sultanate's first post-secondary institutions emerged in the 1980s and the system has since growth to 63 institutions, 35 of which are public. The set of higher education institutions includes six science facilities, seven technology colleges, and schools focused on religious, financial, and military institutions. More than 90,000 Omanis were enrolled in higher education institutions as of 2011, three times the number enrolled a decade ago but just under a third of all 18-24 year olds, well below the enrollment rate in more developed countries. Even so, private institutions have begun to fill needed roles in providing new education opportunities for students unable to enroll in the at-capacity public system.
However, the Omani government has run into problems in ensuring that institutions continue to meet stringent quality standards as the higher education system has expanded rapidly. In response to this, desire to obtain international experience and obtain a high-quality education has also led many Omanis to study abroad, with an estimated 12,000 Omanis enrolled in foreign universities. The government has encouraged this practice via grants and cultural attaches through the Ministry of Higher Education. To further bolster the domestic higher education system, the Omani government has been aggressive in pursuing collaboration agreements with international institutions to generate knowledge transfers and new research opportunities.
NEW SCHOOL
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Focus: Oman-Iran Relations
Nothing Personal
A new automotive production venture and undersea gas pipeline project highlight the long-term and historic friendship between Oman and Iran, underscoring their policies of transparency and non-interference with the aim of achieving the best possible conditions for the economies and people of both countries.
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Abdullah Nasser Abdullah Al Bakri, Minister , Manpower (MoM)
TBY talks to Abdullah Nasser Abdullah Al Bakri, Minister of Manpower (MoM), on its ongoing efforts to boost Omanization across sectors, streamlining the employment process in the private sector, and developing human resources in the country.
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HE Talal Al Rahbi, Deputy Secretary General , Supreme Council for Planning (SCP)
TBY talks to HE Talal Al Rahbi, Deputy Secretary General of the Supreme Council for Planning (SCP), on its key responsibilities, ensuring a more sustainable policy, and the importance of economic diversification.
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Dr. Hilal Al-Qamshoey, Project Director, Oman National Spatial Strategy (ONSS)
TBY talks to Dr. Hilal Al-Qamshoey, Project Director of Oman National Spatial Strategy (ONSS), on the importance of addressing the challenges to growth, assessing potential, and attracting greater FDI.
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Khalid Al Yahmadi, CEO, Muscat National Development and Investment Company (ASAAS)
TBY talks to Khalid Al Yahmadi, CEO of Muscat National Development and Investment Company (ASAAS), on its projects to diversify Oman's economy, sectors with growth potential, and its goals for 2018.
read articleCommuniqué: Ithraa
Exports Matter
Exports matter because they represent the very sectors that drive wealth, attract investment and talent, boost productivity and innovation, and generate employment. Industry accounted for 47.6% of Oman's GDP in 2017 and our non-oil exports were over USD6.2 billion. Today, Omani firms export to 135 countries.
read articleInterview
Khalifa Abdullah Al-Barwani, CEO, National Center for Statistics and Information (NCSI)
TBY talks to Khalifa Abdullah Al-Barwani, CEO of the National Center for Statistics and Information (NCSI), on the many benefits of its information apps, the growing focus on logistics, and supporting the public and private sectors with valuable data.
read articleInterview
Dr. Dhafir Awadh Al-Shanfari, CEO, Oman Authority for Partnership for Development (OAPFD)
TBY talks to Dr. Dhafir Awadh Al-Shanfari, CEO of Oman Authority for Partnership for Development (OAPFD), on the goals of the authority, its current projects, and its focus for the medium term.
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Khalid bin Al Safi Al Haribi, Acting CEO, Public Authority for SMEs Development (Riyada)
TBY talks to Khalid bin Al Safi Al Haribi, Acting CEO of the Public Authority for SMEs Development (Riyada), on instilling an entrepreneurship culture amongst Omanis, key areas for development, and doing more with less.
read articleInterview
Yaqoob Saif Al Kiyumi, CEO, Oman Power and Water Procurement Company (OPWP)
TBY talks to Yaqoob Saif Al Kiyumi, CEO of Oman Power and Water Procurement Company (OPWP), on the challenges of growing water and electricity demand, planning for renewable energy projects, and its key objectives in the long term.
read articleInterview
HE Tahir Bin Salim Bin Abdullah Al Amri, Executive President, Central Bank of Oman (CBO)
TBY talks to HE Tahir Bin Salim Bin Abdullah Al Amri, Executive President of the Central Bank of Oman (CBO), on revising the country's FDI laws, financing the fiscal debt via issuing bonds, and its efforts to promote SMEs.
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HE Abdullah Salim Al Salmi, Executive President, Capital Market Authority (CMA)
TBY talks to HE Abdullah Salim Al Salmi, Executive President of the Capital Market Authority (CMA), on promoting greater activity in the financial services sector, encouraging investors to go beyond the banking sector, and its upcoming projects.
read articleInterview
Dr. Ashraf bin Nabhan Al Nabhani, Chairman, Muscat Securities Market (MSM)
TBY talks to Dr. Ashraf bin Nabhan Al Nabhani, Chairman of Muscat Securities Market (MSM), on the evolution and maturity of the stock market, increased privatization initiatives, and plans to demutualize.
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Murtaza Jariwala, Executive Director, Vanguard Engineering & Oilfield Service
TBY talks to Murtaza Jariwala, Executive Director of Vanguard Engineering & Oilfield Services, on manufacturing and value addition, successful long-term partnerships, and how to best thrive as a truly local company.
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Hilal Mohammed Hamoud Al Busaidi, CEO, Public Authority for Mining (PAM)
TBY talks to Hilal Mohammed Hamoud Al Busaidi, CEO of the Public Authority for Mining (PAM), on increasing metal exploration, sharing the risk with investors, and banking on the rare commodity of quality.
read articleInterview
Dr. Salim Sultan Al Ruzaiqi, CEO, Information Technology Authority (ITA)
TBY talks to Dr. Salim Sultan Al Ruzaiqi, CEO of Information Technology Authority (ITA), on facilitating the investment experience in Oman, taking a coordinated approach to cybersecurity, and giving young people the right exposure.
read articleInterview
Firas A. H. Al-Abduwani, Founder & CEO, Hussam Technology Company (HTC)
TBY talks to Firas A. H. Al-Abduwani, Founder & CEO, and Mohammed Al-Abduwani, COO of Hussam Technology Company (HTC), on making Oman a better place to do business, meeting an ever-expanding customer base, and diversifying one's project capacity.
read articleInterview
Sheikh Aimen Ahmed Sultan Al-Hosni, CEO, Oman Airports Management Company (OAMC)
TBY talks to Sheikh Aimen Ahmed Sultan Al-Hosni, CEO of Oman Airports Management Company (OAMC), on providing a functioning operational platform, top notch end-to-end logistics, and creating competitive advantages for Omani shippers.
read articleFocus: Integrated Tourism Complexes
A Land for All
Oman's integrated tourism complexes (ITCs) allow foreign nationals to own property on a freehold basis. They have given the country's tourism and real estate sectors an innovative boost and might pave the way for further liberalization.
read articleInterview
HE Hamed Said Al-Oufi, Undersecretary, Fisheries Wealth of the Ministry of Agriculture & Fisheries Wealth
TBY talks to HE Hamed Said Al-Oufi, Undersecretary of Fisheries Wealth of the Ministry of Agriculture & Fisheries Wealth, on food security, opportunities for development in the industry, and new infrastructure projects.
read articleInterview
Eng. Saleh M. Al Shanfari, CEO, Oman Food Investment Holding Company (OFIC)
TBY talks to Eng. Saleh M. Al Shanfari, CEO of Oman Food Investment Holding Company (OFIC), on Oman's competitive advantages in food, growing demand for diverse food products, and becoming a regional food hub.
read articleInterview
Ahmed Akaak, Chairman, Oman National Livestock Development Company (ONLDC)
TBY talks to Ahmed Akaak, Chairman of the Oman National Livestock Development Company (ONLDC), on partnerships to boost the quality of animal feeds, the agriculture industry, and the Sultanate's national economy.
read articleReview: Education
New School
Oman's education sector has made massive strides in recent years, and moving forward, government officials see improving teacher quality and increasing international exchange as keys to giving a young and growing population the tools they need for the future.
read articleInterview
HE Dr. Hamood Khalfan Al Harthi, Undersecretary of Education & Curriculum , Ministry of Education
TBY talks to HE Dr. Hamood Khalfan Al Harthi, Undersecretary of Education & Curriculum of the Ministry of Education, on meeting international standards, increasing the teaching staff, and implementing reforms.
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