News & Event

The Ministry of Education has issued a document regulating international educational programs in private schools for the 2025/2026 academic year. The document includes standards and controls for implementing international educational programs in private schools, ensuring they are consistent with the requirements of private schools implementing the educational programs. This is part of the Ministry of Education's efforts to regulate the work of these programs and ensure their quality in accordance with the educational standards in force in the Sultanate of Oman.

The document indicated that the curriculum for international educational programs for grades (1-6) includes three groups of academic subjects, namely: the first group (basic subjects), the second group (supporting subjects), and the third group (elective subjects), provided that the student studies all academic subjects in the basic and support groups according to the requirements of the Ministry and the international program. As for the third group (supporting), the school is obligated to choose a subject from the program’s subjects to complete the requirements of the academic plan.

The document stated that the curriculum for grades (7-8) consists of two groups of academic subjects, namely: the first group (basic subjects), and the second group (supporting subjects). As for grades (9-12), the document clarified that the subjects of Islamic education and social studies are taught from the curriculum of the Ministry of Education, while the rest of the other academic subjects are taught according to the requirements of international educational programs as well as the requirements for the equivalence of international academic qualifications in the Sultanate of Oman.

The document clarified that the implementation of international educational programs in private schools requires adherence to a number of controls, including that the school submit its study plan to the Ministry of Education for approval. The document also allowed private schools to complete their study plan from some subjects of the government curricula or from another international program if the implementation of the international program requires it. Private schools must also commit to teaching the basic subjects (Islamic education, Arabic language, identity, and citizenship / social studies) prescribed according to the curriculum of the Ministry of Education, and not to replace them with other curricula.

The document emphasized that private schools, when implementing international educational programs, must refrain from conducting any enrichment exams. Furthermore, the student's certificate from a private school must include the results of the core subjects prescribed by the Ministry of Education. A private school may not separate a student's results in core subjects from the results of other academic subjects.

The document emphasized the necessity for private schools to obtain the approval of the Ministry of Education before implementing any new international educational program, as the Ministry is the authority authorized to approve the implementation of international educational programs in private schools. It noted that these procedures aim to ensure the quality of education provided in these schools and ensure its compliance with approved national standards.

The document addressed the importance of enhancing educational aspects and extracurricular student activities in private schools, alongside international educational programs, in a way that contributes to building a well-rounded student personality and strengthening their national identity and sense of belonging to their community and homeland.