News & Event

The Convention against Discrimination in Education, issued by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in 1960, defines discrimination as “any distinction, exclusion, restriction or preference based on race, color, sex, language, religion, political opinion, national or social origin, economic status or birth which nullifies or impairs equality of treatment in education.” The Convention urges States Parties to eliminate and prevent any form of discrimination in educational laws, policies, or practices, ensure equal opportunities for access to all levels of education, make primary education compulsory and available free of charge to all, universalize secondary education of all types, and facilitate access to higher education on the basis of merit.

In this context, His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tariq issued Royal Decree No. (32/2026) approving the Sultanate of Oman’s accession to this Convention, in embodiment of its firm approach to promoting justice, equality and equal opportunities in its educational system, and consolidating the principles of inclusiveness and non-exclusion, in line with national legislation, Oman Vision 2040 and the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly the fourth goal related to ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education for all.

HE Ambassador Amna bint Salem Al Balushi, Permanent Delegate of the Sultanate of Oman to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), affirmed that joining this convention supports the position of the Sultanate of Oman at the international level, considering education as a human right, and confirms its firm approach in supporting global principles that establish education as an inalienable human right. Joining reflects a sovereign commitment to actively engage in the international system concerned with protecting this right and enhances the Sultanate’s presence as a responsible partner in multilateral efforts aimed at preserving human dignity by ensuring equitable educational opportunities for all.

This accession sends a message that national education policies stem from a firm conviction of the importance of justice and equal opportunities, in line with internationally recognized human rights frameworks. This enhances the Sultanate’s credibility in international forums related to human rights and sustainable development, supports its participation in formulating joint initiatives and programs related to education, and reinforces Oman’s image as a country that adopts dialogue and international cooperation as a means to promote fundamental rights. It also confirms its commitment to ensuring that education is a tool for empowerment, capacity building, and achieving societal stability.

HE Dr. Intisar bint Abdullah Al-Ambosaidi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Education for Educational Support Programs and Vice-Chair of the Omani National Commission for Education, Culture and Science, believes that joining the Convention contributes to enhancing the professional environment for teachers and consolidating their pivotal roles within schools. This is achieved through the adoption of a clear international commitment that guarantees the provision of professional training and development for those working in the teaching profession without any form of discrimination, as stipulated in Article (4/d) of the Convention. This international framework emphasizes the importance of empowering teachers scientifically and professionally so that they are able to address the needs of all students within a fair and inclusive educational environment.

This commitment is complemented by the School Education Law in the Sultanate of Oman, which established an integrated system to support teachers, as it obligated the Ministry to provide continuous professional development programs for members of the teaching staff (Article 51), and to work on developing their career paths and enhancing their readiness to perform their roles efficiently and competently (Article 52), in addition to activating the educational supervision system to monitor performance, provide specialized technical support and improve professional practices (Articles 67-68).

This harmony between the international agreement and national legislation reflects a strategic direction towards raising the quality of teacher preparation, ensuring equal opportunities for their development, enabling them to manage diversity within classrooms and implement practices that consider individual differences. These efforts are consistent with the objectives of Oman Vision 2040, which aims to build a high-quality education system, enhance the efficiency of educational staff, and empower the teacher to lead an innovative and comprehensive educational process that contributes to building a knowledge society and an economy based on competitive national competencies.

HE Dr. Badr bin Hamoud Al-Kharusi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Education, spoke about the clear alignment of the provisions and articles of this agreement with the laws and legislation related to education in the Sultanate of Oman. The Omani School Education Law prohibits any form of discrimination among students based on gender, origin, color, language, religion, or social status, in accordance with Article 1 of the agreement, which defines and prohibits discrimination. The law also stipulates free and compulsory education at the basic level, which aligns with the agreement's commitment to making primary education free and compulsory and facilitating post-basic and higher education for all. The law and the Omani educational philosophy emphasize equal opportunities, curriculum standardization, and respect for identity and culture without compromising the principle of non-discrimination. This is also permitted by the agreement within the framework of respecting cultural and religious specificities without infringing upon individuals' rights to education based on equality and quality. Furthermore, the Education Law promotes teacher training and professional development, which is consistent with the agreement's call for training all those working in the field of education without discrimination.

Dr. Mahmoud bin Abdullah Al-Abri, Secretary of the Omani National Commission for Education, Culture and Science, pointed out that this agreement contributes to strengthening the Sultanate of Oman's position in educational indicators and international reports related to achieving Sustainable Development Goal 4. The agreement serves as an international framework that calls upon countries to adopt educational policies based on equal opportunities and non-discrimination, which are fundamental elements directly measured within the indicators of Goal 4. The Sultanate of Oman's commitment to the agreement's provisions, such as preventing discrimination in enrollment and quality of education, ensuring free and compulsory basic education, and guaranteeing equal opportunities for post-basic and higher education, supports improved results in indicators such as: universal enrollment rate, gender equality, inclusion of marginalized groups, quality of learning environment, and equity policies in education. The clarity of these principles in the Omani School Education Law—such as the explicit provisions on equality and the prohibition of discrimination among students—facilitates international organizations, particularly UNESCO, in assessing progress and verifying the alignment of the national legislative framework with global commitments. This positively impacts the Sultanate of Oman's ranking in comparative reports, thereby enhancing the reliability of national data and helping to raise Oman's standing in equity indicators, quality of learning, and inclusive education, included in the assessment of Goal 4.

Jamal Al-Nabhani, Advisor to the Minister of Education for Legal Affairs and Head of the Committee for Public Rights and Freedoms at the Omani Human Rights Commission, addressed the legal dimensions of the Sultanate of Oman’s accession to the Convention, saying: “The Basic Law of the State has given legal force to the international treaties and agreements to which the Sultanate of Oman has joined, as it has entrusted the esteemed Council of Ministers, pursuant to Article (51) thereof, with the general supervision of the implementation of treaties and agreements, in a manner that ensures compliance with them. Article (97) of the same law has given the international agreements to which the Sultanate of Oman has joined great importance, as they are binding on all entities in the State, as they are considered one of the sources of national law after joining them, and it is impossible for those entities to issue any regulations, decisions, or instructions that conflict with them.”

The provisions of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination in Education have become part of the country’s law in force after joining it. It places upon the countries that join it many obligations that revolve around combating discrimination between individuals in the field of education, whether they are citizens or residents, on account of color, sex, language, religion, origin, or other criteria of discrimination contained in Article (1) of the Convention. It should be noted that Article (2) of the Convention has identified some aspects that are not considered discrimination. The Convention also places upon the States Parties the responsibility of submitting reports on the progress they are making at the national level in enforcing and implementing the provisions of the Convention to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, including statistics and data that support the effective implementation of the Convention.