His Majesty Sultan Qaboos speech on Higher Education

 
Education in Oman

• His Majesty Sultan Qaboos speech on Higher Education and Higher Education Training
• Foreword from the Chairman of the Oman Higher Education Council
• Overview of Education in Oman
• Characteristics of Market
  • Stages of Education
  • Student Population
  • Children with Special needs
  • Teaching Staff
  • Private Schools
  • Private Colleges
  • Adult Education
• The role of the Ministry of Higher Education
• Teaching of English
• Higher Education in Oman
  • Sultan Qaboos University(SQU)
  • Sultan Qaboos University Hospital
• Students Overseas

Full text of HM speech to Majlis Oman

In the name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful.

Praise be to God, through whose bounty good works are achieved, and may

Blessings and Peace be upon the one who brought Guidance to lead the people out of the darkness, and upon his Family and Companions, as long as the earth and the heavens remain.

Honorable Members of the Council of Oman,

Dear Citizens,

Through the Grace of God we meet again to reaffirm our determination to

Consolidate and develop the shura (consultation) path in a manner that will serve the interests of the nation and meet the aspirations of its citizens. From the very beginning it was our wish to see Oman embark upon its own enterprise in the field of democratic action in which its citizens play their part in taking national decisions.

This enterprise has been built up brick-by-brick on firm foundations based on the realities of Omani life and the conditions of the age in which we live. This is reflected in the step-by-step approach which we adopted in this regard, which culminated in all legally eligible citizens — both men and women — being granted the right to vote.

From our side, we extend our patronage and support to this process, while our government from its side is performing its duty in co-operating with the State Council (Majlis Addawla) and the Consultation Council (Majlis Ash’shura). However, we must point out here that another important dimension also needs to exist in order to ensure that the process bears fruit: this dimension is the activity in which you, the members of the two Councils, are engaged and the extent to which you yourselves are supporting the enterprise, whether through the recommendations and practical proposals you put forward, or through the way in which you help raise the level of public awareness about relevant issues.

Human enterprise can only succeed if there is constant endeavor, accompanied by determination, a strong will and a sense of responsibility. No nation can achieve its goal unless it unites and works together to build its future and develop its potential.

We are fully confident that all of you — both men and women — will play your part in developing and building up this Omani enterprise and reinforcing its roots through hard work and wise and responsible endeavor for the sake of the nation and its citizens.

Honorable Members of the Council of Oman,

Dear Citizens,

We will not go into elaborate detail in describing the past achievements of the Omani Renaissance in various spheres of life. However, we should point out that if by the Grace of God we are enjoying prosperity today, then we also have a duty not to forget that our thoughts and plans should be focused on the future.

This is because major targets and many challenges lie ahead of us and the road is long. We are therefore required to arm ourselves with knowledge, a firm will and a readiness for hard work, and to seek success from God.

We have attached major priority to our domestic policy since the beginning of the Blessed Renaissance so that our human resources can be developed in such a way as will enable them to serve the community and work for the good of the nation.

We appreciate the efforts being made by the different state authorities in this field, and we also commend the private sector’s contributions to the education and training programmes and to developing manpower skills and producing qualified Omani personnel.

In particular, we support this sector’s moves to establish colleges and universities in different parts of the Sultanate in order to provide the widest possible opportunities for higher education within the country.

We call upon those in charge of these universities to make them easily accessible to young Omanis who wish to enrol in them. We also call upon them to focus on their academic syllabi, ensure that they are constantly developed and updated so that their universities can be assured of their place among the ranks of distinguished institutions, and increase the numbers of students applying to study in them.

Here we should also like to point out that over the past two years we have been observing the private sector’s efforts to provide job opportunities for nationals in its companies and establishments.

In urging young Omanis to make use of the available educational, training and job opportunities, we should like everyone to understand that our repeated calls for attention to be given to human resources — to education, training and employment — reflect the importance we attach to this vital issue — an issue which we regard as the cornerstone of the future and the main stimulus enabling us to reach our goals.

We should also like to note that in July 2001 we issued a Royal Decree on the General Census of Population, Housing and Establishment which stated that the actual count should begin in December of this year — 2003. In stressing the importance of the census results for the country’s future development plans, we call upon everyone to co-operate fully with those in charge of implementing the project, provide them with accurate information and do everything possible to help ensure success in achieving the desired goals.

With regard to foreign policy, we strongly call for the establishment of a sovereign, viable Palestinian state at the earliest opportunity, for the Arab states to recover their lands and their sovereignty, and for peace, security and stability to prevail in every part of the world. Injustice is darkness, and we are against injustice and darkness and on the side of justice, light and harmony. Mankind will only enjoy happiness and a sense of security if there is justice and respect for all those things which guarantee human beings their legitimate rights. First and foremost of these is their right to honour, dignity and freedom from humiliation, and their right to liberty and independence.

Praise be to God who has guided us to this state. We would not have been guided were it not for the fact that God has guided us. May God grant you success in your endeavours. And may Peace be upon you and God’s Mercy and Blessings.

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Foreword from the Chairman of the Oman Higher Education Council

Education is considered pivot and a basic pillar for the blessed Renaissance under the patronage of the human leader His Majesty Sultan Qaboos who looks at the development process as a comprehensive and integral one, that aims at achieving Man's happiness & prosperity. Hence no developent can be achieved, in any community, without manpower development which is an inevitable pre-requisite for any kind of development.

The leader's Intellect was the Guide for embarking the present sustainable development achieved by the Sultanate of Oman, when His Majesty announced that he is "intending to offer the Omani youth the opportunity not only to acquire the academic and professional skills, but also to have a capacity for original thoughts to study thoroughly and with deep concern their country's civilization with its great historical heritage, hence education should not only be an instrumentality for graduating technocrates & intellegentsia, but it should give due importance to formation of personal qualities".

Stemming from this clear-sighted and perspicacious vision of His Majesty, Oman is now witnessing a vast educational development at all levels reflected by the rapid continuous increase in the number of students enrollment, that culminated from 1,000 students in 1970 to more than six hundred thousand students in the academic year 2001/2002. This relatively high rate of enrollment incited the higher education institutes to cope with this new pressing conversion by diversifying its programmes for increasing the number of intake and face this challenging issue. In response to this issue and others there was a need for establishing a body assigned to plan, supervise, and launch educational policies, co-ordinate implementation processes in a harmonious and cooperative manner between the various higher education units and institutes; this body was The Higher Education Council. This step was consolidated with the establishment of the academic accreditation board to govern the academic quality assurance and acts as a parameter for scientific audit and assessment.

All these achievements come in response and in consistency with the aspiration of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos - God Bless Him.

My thanks and gratitudes are extended to all officials of the Higher Education Establishments.

Sayed Ali bin Humoud Ali Al Busaidi
Minister of Diwan Royal Court
Chairman of the Higher Education Council

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Overview of Education in Oman

Education and training in the Sultanate of Oman have developed at a staggering pace since the accession of Sultan Qaboos bin Said in 1970. At that time there were only three rudimentary schools in the entire country, with a total of 909 pupils and not more than thirty teachers. There are now over 1000 schools in Oman, 90% of them government-run (the remainder being private) providing education at primary, preparatory and secondary levels.

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Stages of Education

At present there are three stages of juvenile education: primary, preparatory and secondary. Primary school education usually begins at the age of six. Having passed the sixth primary grade examination between the ages of twelve and fourteen the pupil moves on to preparatory education. Students passing the general preparatory certificate examination are then admitted to the first grade of secondary school between the ages of fifteen and seventeen. On completion of their secondary education successful students can go on to advanced training at specialist colleges or enter Sultan Qaboos University.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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