Labour ministry to streamline private training centres

MUSCAT: The Ministry of Labour (MoL) is stepping up efforts to boost Oman’s private training sector by ensuring that programmes are increasingly aligned with the needs of the labour market.
Mahfoodha bint Mubarak al Araimi, Director-General of Private Training Institutions at the MoL, said the development of the private training sector is a key component of building a national skills development ecosystem.
As part of its efforts to improve the investment environment, the ministry is preparing a risk register for an initiative aimed at enhancing investment in private training institutions. The register will help identify potential challenges and establish appropriate mechanisms to address them.
In addition, a document is being prepared to identify training fields with investment potential in coordination with the Employment Governance Committees for economic sectors in their first and second phases.

Al Araimi emphasised that investment in training should not be measured simply by an increase in the number of institutions or programmes. Rather, its value lies in the sector’s ability to deliver high-quality training that improves the readiness of national talent and equips them with technical, professional and technological skills required by a changing economy.
The ministry is placing particular emphasis on vocational, technical and professional training provided by private institutions, given its importance in developing practical and technical skills and supplying the labour market with qualified personnel.
Al Araimi said expanding into these areas would create new opportunities for investors and private training institutions, diversify the services available and support the transition towards more flexible and varied training models.
According to private training sector indicators, Oman currently has 62 licensed private training institutions operating across the governorates, offering 819 accredited training programmes and employing 637 accredited administrative and training personnel.

The number of approvals issued for training visas stood at 150, while 122 visits were conducted to private training institutions for various purposes.
The Directorate-General of Private Training Institutions also carried out 19 classification visits to assess and classify institutions, improve the quality of their outcomes and strengthen oversight and supervision.
Meanwhile, 21 students are enrolled in the Professional Diploma Programme, reflecting the range of training pathways offered by private institutions.
Al Araimi stressed that the development of the private training sector is directly linked to strengthening quality assurance, oversight and supervision.
These measures are intended to ensure compliance with approved standards and requirements while improving the quality of training services provided to beneficiaries.
“Investment in training is an investment in human capital,” Al Araimi said, noting that enhancing human resource capabilities and equipping Omanis with technical, technological and professional skills will contribute to the competitiveness of the national economy and strengthen the ability of national talent to adapt to labour market changes.