MUSCAT: The Oman Education Quality Assurance Authority (OEQAA) has launched its Strategic Plan for 2026–2030, marking a new phase in its efforts to strengthen the national education quality assurance system and enhance confidence in the quality and competitiveness of educational outcomes in the Sultanate.
The launch ceremony was held under the auspices of Dr Khamis bin Saif al Jabri, Minister of Economy, and attended by senior officials, representatives of educational institutions and the Authority’s partners from various sectors.
The new strategy seeks to strengthen the Authority’s national role in advancing the quality of education across different levels and types, while supporting the objectives of Oman Vision 2040, particularly those related to education, learning, scientific research and national capabilities.
Speaking at the ceremony, Dr Jokha bint Abdullah al Shukaili, Chairperson of OEQAA, said the new strategy represents a new chapter in the Authority’s efforts to establish an integrated and sustainable national system for education quality assurance.
She said quality in education goes beyond standards and indicators, stressing that it is ultimately about “the quality of the person we contribute to building, the trust we establish and the future we aspire to for Oman”.
The strategy marks a shift towards a more forward-looking approach in which the Authority’s mandates and aspirations are translated into programmes and initiatives, strategic objectives into measurable results, and results into tangible and sustainable improvements in the quality of education in Oman, she added.
Al Shukaili noted that education has received continued attention from His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik, highlighting its role as a fundamental pillar of human development, capacity building and sustainable national development.
She also highlighted the significance of Royal Decree No 12/2026, describing it as an important milestone in the Authority’s development, particularly in expanding its responsibilities and mandates and strengthening its national role within the education system.
The expanded mandate is aligned with Oman Vision 2040 and its priorities in education and learning, scientific research and national capabilities, she said.
According to Al Shukaili, the Authority approached the preparation of the new strategy not merely as an institutional requirement, but as an opportunity to review its progress, anticipate future developments and define the impact it seeks to achieve across the education system and society over the next five years.
The strategy is built around a vision of becoming “a leading authority that enhances the confidence of society and the world in the quality of education in Oman”.
Its mission is to strengthen education quality through an integrated system of accreditation, evaluation and measurement based on recognised standards, leading international practices and sustainable national capacity building.
Al Shukaili said confidence lies at the heart of the Authority’s mission — among learners in the quality of their education, families in the education system, institutions in the competence of their graduates, and society and the international community in the quality of education in Oman.
She stressed that the 2026–2030 strategy extends beyond accreditation, evaluation and measurement, seeking instead to contribute to the development of a comprehensive national quality system based on evidence and data.
The strategy will also focus on adopting leading international practices, investing in national capabilities, leveraging modern technologies and digital transformation, and continuously reviewing and improving the Authority’s tools and practices.
The new strategic plan is structured around eight key areas: quality of education and learning; cooperation, partnerships and institutional reputation; capacity building; governance and management; the digital ecosystem; planning and development; human resources and financial empowerment; and the work environment and institutional culture.
Al Shukaili explained that these areas are interconnected components of an integrated system through which the Authority will translate its vision into objectives, objectives into programmes and initiatives, and initiatives into measurable indicators and results.
“This ensures that the strategy moves beyond the planning framework into established institutional practice and sustainable impact,” she said.
The Chairperson also underlined the importance of partnerships in achieving the strategy’s objectives, stressing that education quality is a shared national responsibility that cannot be achieved by one institution alone.
She expressed the Authority’s commitment to developing deeper and more effective partnerships with educational institutions, government entities, private sector organisations, local partners and international institutions, as well as all stakeholders concerned with education quality.
“Real investment in Oman’s future begins with the quality of education and with building a person capable of contributing efficiently and effectively to national development,” she said.
Dr Ahmed bin Mohammed al Maamari, official spokesperson for OEQAA, said the strategic plan represents a qualitative shift in the Authority’s journey by aligning institutional efforts around clear and defined objectives.
He explained that the strategy was developed through a participatory approach based on an assessment of the current situation and an analysis of future developments. This will help direct the Authority’s efforts over the next five years towards achieving a tangible impact on education quality, improving the efficiency of educational institutions and strengthening evidence- and data-based practices, he said.
The launch ceremony also featured a visual presentation highlighting the Authority’s institutional journey and efforts to establish a national framework for education quality assurance. It outlined the key elements of the new strategy, including its vision, mission, values, strategic priorities, programmes and initiatives.
The strategy is underpinned by institutional values including integrity and transparency, professionalism, partnership, flexibility and foresight.
The Authority said these values will support institutional effectiveness and help ensure the successful implementation of its strategic priorities during the coming phase.
Al Shukaili described the launch as more than the unveiling of a strategic plan, saying it represents a renewed national commitment to the future of education in Oman.
She stressed that quality should become an institutional culture, development a continuous practice, confidence the outcome of performance, and sustainable impact the true measure of success.
Through the 2026–2030 strategy, the Authority aims to further strengthen Oman’s national education quality assurance system, enhance the competitiveness of educational outcomes and contribute to preparing generations capable of responding to future requirements and playing an effective role in the Sultanate’s comprehensive and sustainable development.
Oman Observer is now on the WhatsApp channel. Click here
