Redefining fatherhood in the 21th century
German humorist Wilhelm Busch apparently once said, "It's not hard to become a father. Being one is the really difficult part". As the world commemorated Father’s Day this Sunday, it is apt to see...
Summer time can be a reading treat for young adults
As the sun sizzles and we stay indoors for much of the day, enjoying a much deserved break from school and college, the novelty of this may soon wear off.The common refrain of boredom sets in by the...
World Environment Day is more than tokenism
2022 marks the 50th anniversary of the Stockholm conference which upheld the idea of ‘Only one earth’ as part of World Environment Day, celebrated every year on June 5.It is an apt time of the...
Rethinking assessment in education
As the academic year in schools and colleges is drawing to a close, there is some introspection among teachers about the way in which assessment continues to be implemented at different levels and...
Smart cities can lead to smart education
The recent announcement by the Muscat Municipality to develop a large area on the Seeb waterfront as a multi-purpose park, as well as the ‘Maidan Muttrah’, a proposed bridge with a bird’s eye...
Flexible spaces and creativity are intertwined
There has been much talk of late in the Sultanate of Oman about the benefits of flexibility in the work place. This is on the back of the recent announcement about implementing flexible office hours...
Downtime has much needed upsides
As the week long Eid break in the Sultanate of Oman came to an end and everyday routine took over, it is an opportune time to look at why having occasional downtime is important and how we can...
Caring for the planet – one book at a time
It is surely not a coincidence that Earth Day and World Book Day should both fall in the same week.With increasing uncertainty around the world economy and the general state of the world, the larger...
The perils of continuing to work from home
As offices are gradually opening up, either partially or fully, many employees are returning to their workspaces rather reluctantly, either out of nervousness or habit. Many countries worldwide have...
Why hybrid classes need to be made permanent
As students gingerly go back to school across the world, the consequences of a two-year gap in traditional, face-to-face education will surely be evident. Bereft of social contact and classroom...
Time management is both a skill and an art
The long summer days in the Sultanate of Oman can be deceptive – they seem to offer many hours of productive work, leading to relaxed evenings with family and friends. But the reality is not as...
Earth Hour reflects grass root activism at its best
As the Sultanate of Oman, along with the rest of the world, observed Earth Hour by switching off household and institutional lights for an hour, it reminds us that protecting the environment isn’t...
The perfect Mother’s Day gift? Your time
E M Forster, the noted writer once said, “I am sure that if the mothers of various nations could meet, there would no more war”. In our present world, perhaps that is a much needed reminder.As...
The rise of cooking as therapy
As Ramadhan approaches and preparations begin in households to mark the holy month with religious observances, there is also excitement around new recipes - browsing the Internet for the latest fusion...
The magical world of children’s stories
One of the most endearing images of the Muscat International Book Fair which concluded last week was the enthusiastic, sometimes raucous participation of children in what can only be called a literary...
Positive thinking for a harsh world
We often feel we are living in a world where little seems to be going right. Whether it is global politics, climate change, harsh economic realities or recovering from the experiences of the pandemic,...
Why are book fairs still so popular in a digital world?
There is much anticipation for the launch of the Muscat International Book Fair on February 23 at the Oman Convention Centre. Coming after a year’s gap, this will be one of the first public events...
Learning to be a parent, by the book
If you are a new parent, chances are that you have prepared for this moment enthusiastically and meticulously.Everything from clothing, car seats and feeding paraphernalia is thought out to the last...
Why Wordle is the need of the hour
If you haven’t heard of the online word game Wordle, you’re definitely living on another planet. This digital game, consisting of a grid of 30 tiles, 5 across and 6 down, offers a new 5-letter...
Opening windows to different worlds, cultures
With a generation of toddlers growing up on endless loops of YouTube videos, actually played out on smartphones, the gap in the children’s book sector is an exciting and creative space.What do we...