Last week, His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik visited Sultan Faisal bin Turki School for Boys in Al Amerat. The visit entails wide-ranging importance and significance for the education sector as well as the nation as a whole.
As for the education, the visit marks a gesture from His Majesty the Sultan to draw attention to the importance of education in Oman. Education represents one of the key pillars in Oman Vision 2040. Government bodies in charge of the sector devote efforts and energies to devise detailed plans to guide progress towards what the vision aims to achieve especially in the education sector.
Before 1970s, Omanis were living in total darkness of ignorance, having little or no education. A lot of Omanis, just before then, were literally unable to read or write, let alone have the fundamentals of modern science and knowledge, despite the fact that Omanis are historically well-known for their strong affection for education based on admiration, benevolence and common interests. Omanis throughout history glorify scholars by bestowing honour, praise and admiration to those in possession of knowledge.
However, during the early years of the 1970s, the first step the Omani renaissance led by the late His Majesty Sultan Qaboos focused on was to eradicate illiteracy by its roots, vowing to spread education to every part of Oman and making free education accessible to all Omanis.
The Omanis in return reacted by showing favourable reaction to the move, giving support and approval to the new era ahead. From the shades of trees to modern and high-tech buildings, the education system in Oman has revolved around one fundamental precept... delivering quality education to all citizens and at all levels.
Now, His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik has asserted that education should be the cornerstone and foundation of modern Oman. It is the beacon of the nation and a source of light and inspiration for the current and future generations. It is His Majesty the Sultan’s vision that Omani youth should receive high-quality education which meets national as well as international standards.
His Majesty the Sultan emphasises that education in Oman should be superior in kind, and delivered with a degree of excellence. The Royal directives of His Majesty the Sultan stipulate that higher education institutions and academic programmes should be assessed against established standards on a regular basis, while policies, teaching methods, curricula, faculty qualifications, facilities and student outcomes to be reviewed for excellence.
To this end, Oman Authority for Academic Accreditation and Quality Assurance of Education (OAAAQAE) has been established and mandated to ensure that education quality and standards are maintained in all educational institutions and programmes in both schools and higher education institutions.
The establishment of the authority is to help students and employers give prominence and distinction to credible institutions from substandard ones, while they are held accountable to stakeholders, including students, parents, employers and the government.
Acting on the Royal vision for education, the authority has set clear and measurable standards and criteria for higher education institutions and programmes. International points of reference have been considered by OAAAQAE, from which academic, administrative and operational benchmarks for quality education have been made.
OAAAQAE is the only authority in Oman which can award accreditation to education institutions or programmes. It may also withdraw accreditation, should an institution does not act upon its recommendations for improvement or falls short of the required standards.
Adhering to Oman Vision 2040, the country aims to promote a culture of ongoing quality enhancement within institutions as well as periodic reviews and re-accreditation to maintain standards over time, ensuring that education is delivered in the manner required.
In conclusion, the visit is worthy of and attracts attention because it reflects the supreme will of His Majesty the Sultan for excellence in the education sector.
Musallam Al Maani
The writer is Dean, Al Zahra College for Women
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