Oman’s education sector is on the right track

As the summer break ends, the Sultanate of Oman is soon embarking on a new academic year, 2025/2026, a period marked by significant educational advancements and a renewed focus on student well-being and leadership development.

Oman has made significant strides in its education sector, consistently prioritising human capital development as a cornerstone of its national progress. The country’s commitment to education is reflected in its continuous efforts to enhance educational infrastructure, curriculum development and teacher training.

These achievements are particularly relevant as the nation prepares for the academic year 2025/2026, focusing on adapting to global trends and addressing contemporary challenges. The new academic year is set to build upon existing educational achievements while integrating new strategies to meet evolving demands.

A key focus will be on leveraging technology, particularly Artificial Intelligence (AI), to personalise learning experiences and enhance educational outcomes. This aligns with global trends where AI is seen as a transformative tool in education, offering solutions for administrative complexity and fostering personalised connections between educators and students.

The integration of AI-driven learning platforms will dynamically adjust to student interests and learning paces, enhancing accessibility and inclusivity, with virtual labs and simulations enabling experimentation without geographical constraints.

The Ministry of Education stated that it has received 16 new schools in nine educational directorates to operate at the beginning of the new academic year. The ministry has earmarked RO 20 million for the establishment of 80 new schools as well as new facilities in existing schools.

New facilities have already been implemented in 68 schools at a cost of RO 15 million, with 53 of them expected to be operational this year. An amount of RO 7 million has been allocated for renovation work, RO 4 million to refurnish 77 science laboratories.

This year, the number of teachers in government schools has reached 66,379, distributed across 1,303 schools. The number of administrative and technical staff in government schools stands at 11,183, including 4,420 males and 6,763 females.

Meanwhile, special education schools employ 241 teachers and 46 administrative staff. The Ministry of Education has completed the appointment procedures for new teachers who passed written tests and personal interviews for this academic year to meet actual staffing needs across various specialisations.

To better equip the education sector in Oman, a national plan has also been implemented to prepare 100 government and private schools in Muscat, Al Dakhiliyah and Al Batinah South for external review by the Oman Authority for Academic Accreditation and Quality Assurance of Education (OAAAQA).

This effort aims to enhance administrative and technical readiness, activate self-assessment tools and improve institutional performance, reaffirming the ministry’s commitment to supporting educational staff and providing sustainable programmes that contribute to educational development.

The Ministry of Education has been seeking to implement a number of educational goals, the most important of which is to continue to update and develop school curricula in line with the requirements of sustainable development and global trends.

The ministry also continues to digitise the curricula and equip educational directorates with integrated educational studios, re-engineer procedures for its services and develop the educational indicators system.

Oman’s commitment to educational advancement extends to higher education and the integration of modern technologies. The country aims to become a knowledge-based economy by 2040. Overall, Oman’s education system has undergone a profound transformation, characterised by significant expansion, localisation of the teaching force, pedagogical reforms, integration of advanced technologies like AI, and a commitment to developing well-rounded citizens and professionals.