News & Event

HE Dr. Madiha bint Ahmed Al Shaibaniya, Minister of Education, received on (Monday) morning (8) of school students from the educational directorates in the governorates of Muscat, Al Batinah and Al Dakhiliyah, Al Amal School for the Deaf, and Omar Bin Al Khattab Institute for the Blind, on the occasion of International Children's Day, which falls on the twentieth of November each year. Attended the meeting HE Sumayra Choudhury - Representative of UNICEF in the Sultanate of Oman, and Shanuna Al Habsi, Assistant Director-General of Special Education at the Directorate-General of Special Education and Continuing Learning, and a member of the Steering Committee supervising the National Program between the Government of the Sultanate of Oman and UNICEF. The meeting took place in Oman Hall in the Ministry’s General Diwan.

During this meeting, a dialogue session was held, moderated by Lujain bint Aref Al-Amri, student at the Sima and Muqzah School for Basic Education in Al-Dakhiliyah Governorate. HE the Minister, welcomed the attendees and the participants and said: "The holding of such sessions is an interactive platform during which the Ministry learns about students' opinions and ideas to build upon and take into account when formulating educational policies. They have new energies, ideas and initiatives that contribute to the development of the Ministry's work, which enhances community building and the development of the educational environment."

HE also indicated that “these dialogue sessions encourage students to ask questions and present their ideas on many issues, allowing them to access a safe space and communication between them and officials, and that listening to them has a positive impact on making many decisions related to their issues and their future aspirations, their curricula, and the innovative and mathematical aspects, especially in the development and modernization of the educational system in the Sultanate of Oman in all its sectors to translate the goals of Oman Vision 2040, and encourage

them to participate in various competitions at the local, regional and international levels.”

During this dialogue session, the students discussed the compatibility of the curricula adopted by the Ministry of Education for students with hearing and visual disabilities, and that the Ministry believes in the abilities that these students possess, and that they are treated as much as possible in terms of knowledge like their healthy peers, with the difference in the teaching mechanism, in view of what some of them aspire to, after completing general education, to join higher education institutions, or the labor market, and the cognitive aspects they require. The Ministry also seeks, through the digital transformation program, to find educational technologies that help teachers and students of all categories in the educational process.

The importance of diversifying school activities, especially in the first cycle schools (1-4), was also discussed. The Ministry has also recently put forward a strategy for school sports through the School Sports Federation. The ministry has expanded in the past years in scientific activities through the participation of school students in various competitions, whether at the local, regional or global levels. The ministry also has a framework and plan for cultural activities to give freedom for school administrations to activate these activities, and the Ministry is looking forward, during the upcoming plans, to enhance these activities in partnership with the private sector. The Ministry as well is about to implement a symposium in cooperation with the Ministry of Housing to study the future requirements for school buildings and enhancing them to be an attractive school environment for students.

The development and adoption of students’ talents in various scientific, sports and cultural fields was also discussed, and that the Ministry worked on developing a strategy for developing students’ talents and implementing it through a number of programs such as scientific programs, and programs for sponsoring outstanding students who have achieved advanced positions in international studies, and in achievement level, and nurturing talents programs. It is also important to change the society’s culture by not focusing on the outstanding student only in terms of academic achievement, but also the talents and skills that refine their personalities and scientific initiatives, and this is what the Ministry seeks to achieve.

At the end of the dialogue session, HE Dr. Madiha bint Ahmed Al Shaibaniya, Minister of Education, expressed her happiness about the interaction of these

students, and the wonderful performance she witnessed in managing this dialogue session, and the superior ability they showed in deep understanding in many of the topics they raised, their awareness of societal issues, and their full awareness of the challenges and difficulties around them. HE honored these students at the end of the dialogue session.

On the other hand, HE Dr. Madiha bint Ahmed Al Shaibani, Minister of Education, received yesterday evening (Monday) HE Sumayra Choudhury, representative of UNICEF in the Sultanate of Oman. Attended the meeting Dr. Said Al Ameri, Head of the Office of HE the Minister, Shanuna Al Habsi, Assistant Director-General of Special Education at the Directorate-General of Special Education and Continuing Learning, and a member of the Steering Committee supervising the National Program between the Government of the Sultanate of Oman and UNICEF, and Ali Taher, Deputy Representative of UNICEF in the Sultanate of Oman.

The meeting began with HE’s welcoming the new representative of the UNICEF office, appreciating the joint and fruitful cooperation between the Ministry and the organization, and wishing her a pleasant stay and success in her new duties in the Sultanate of Oman. After that, HE reviewed the achievements made in improving the educational system, in accordance with the Oman Vision 2040 and the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, especially the fourth goal related to the quality of education, noting that the issuance of the education law will be soon and is in its final stages. HE also touched on the international achievements in international studies, TIMSS and PEARLS.

During the meeting, the repercussions left by the Corona crisis, including the learning loss, and the mechanisms used to treat it, were also discussed, as well as the importance of data and statistics to support decision-makers and to develop various strategies related to this data.

HE Soumyra Choudhury, representative of UNICEF, praised the efforts made by the Sultanate of Oman to improve the educational process, and the valuable achievements she witnessed when she visited some schools. HE also touched on some of the priorities of the organization's work agenda in terms of investment in education, early childhood support, climate change, and support for children with disabilities.