ONA__As many as (782,818) students will begin the new school year 2023/2024 today (Tuesday) in various educational directorates across the Sultanate of Oman.

The total number of students in grades (1-4) reached (304,913), while the total number of students in grades (5-8) was (261,804). The total number of students in grades (9-12) reached (120,101) and the total number of new students in the first grade was (76,724).

The total number of special education students reached (1,769). These students are attending (1270) schools including (356) schools for the first cycle, (68) schools for the second cycle, (121) schools in grades (9-12), (25) schools in grades (11-12), and (700) schools operating in the morning and afternoon shifts. The total number of schools operating in the afternoon shift reached (133), and the total number of new schools reached (29) schools.

The total number of teachers in government schools for this school year 2023/2024 reached (60,840) teachers, and (11,509) administrators and technicians. The number of teachers in special education schools reached (284) teachers, and the total number of administrators in special education schools reached (65).

Dr. Madiha Ahmed Al Shaibani, Minister of Education, delivered a speech on this occasion, in which she said, “I am honored to raise to His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik, on behalf of his children, the students, their parents, members of the educational staff and employees of the Ministry, the sincere gratitude and greatest expressions of praise for the special care and attention being accorded to the school education sector.

The minister also extended warmest congratulations to students and members of the educational staff, wishing them success in this academic year.

She also welcomed the teachers who have joined the education system to contribute to building their country and society.

The minister also welcomed teachers from sisterly countries who share this educational message with the Sultanate of Oman, wishing everyone success.

Dr. Madiha said: “In the pursuit of the Ministry of Education to improve education to meet the requirements of the next stage, and thanks to the efforts exerted in expanding the preparation of Omani teacher programmes and qualifying them in coordination with the authorities concerned, the Ministry managed during this year (2023) to appoint more than (5,700) teachers, with an increase rate up to (41%) compared to previous years, bringing the number of Omani teachers to approximately (14 thousand) teachers appointed during the first three years of the tenth five-year plan.”

Believing in the importance of professional development for teachers, and its connection to the professional path plans for members of the teaching staff, the minister pointed out that the Ministry of Education continues to prepare qualitative training programmes for teachers to enhance their professional competencies, and to enable them to perform their duties efficiently and competently.

Dr. Madiha referred to the issuance of the Royal Decree on the School Education Law, by saying: “In continuation of the support enjoyed by the education sector in the Sultanate of Oman in all its aspects, and to strengthen the governance of the educational system and develop the legislative and organizational structure that guarantees a stimulating and supportive educational environment at the technical and administrative levels, the Royal Decree No. (31/2023) issued on the School Education Law to serve as a legislative framework, and an educational and legal document that organizes rights, duties and responsibilities in aspects pertaining to the educational process.

On developing the education system and starting to implement technical and vocational education, the minister said, “In implementation of the royal directives of His Majesty the Sultan to develop the school education system, the Ministry will start during this academic year (2023-2024), applying vocational and technical education in accordance with the best international standards and educational practices in business administration and information technology in the eleventh grade in four schools, two schools for boys and two schools for girls in the governorates of Muscat and North Al Batinah.

She added that the Ministry also intends to offer a number of engineering and industrial specializations in specific schools in the governorates of Muscat and North Al Batinah at the beginning of the next school year 2024/2025, in partnership with the energy sector. In continuation of this approach, the Ministry will gradually expand the application of vocational and technical education by establishing similar partnerships with the rest of the economic sectors, and increase the number of students, majors, and governorates during the upcoming academic years.

The minister emphasized the Ministry's interest in developing all academic curricula, by saying: “The Ministry has given a great attention to the development of all academic curricula, especially Science, Mathematics, English and Information Technology subjects, due to their direct connection with the fields of scientific and technical development and innovation that the world is witnessing. Therefore, this academic year, the Ministry will complete the implementation of the final phase of the science and mathematics series project for grade 12, and the Ministry will continue to apply the English language and information technology series for grades 3 and 4.