The Youth Centre has launched a program codenamed Mustaqil, which is the first national system to identify young people's entrepreneurial abilities and turn them into sources of money. The programme aims to encourage school children to be self-sufficient and entrepreneurial. It is being carried out in partnership with the Ministry of Education and the SMEs Development Authority (Riyada).
The three-month course, which began on July 7, 2025, will last until September 18, 2025. It is being implemented in 11 training institutes throughout the Sultanate of Oman. The institutions are Sohar University, the Junior Development Centre in Sur, Ibri Club, the Sultan Qaboos Youth Compound for Culture and Entertainment in Salalah, the Youth Centre in Al Khuwair, Al Sharqiyah University in Ibra, Oman Across the Ages Museum in Manah, Wali Hall in A'Rustaq, the Special Economic Zone Authority in Duqm, and Khasab Sports Club.
The program seeks 330 school students (male and female) in grades 10, 11, and 12, with 30 participants from each governorate.
The program provides complete professional and cultural training material that broadens students' knowledge of independent work and equips them with the abilities necessary to give digital services and engage with clients. Mustaqil also teaches students how to create professional portfolios on freelance platforms. It encourages early entrepreneurial mindset in kids so that they can start successful small enterprises.
Samira Al Tal'ee, head of the Entrepreneurship Department at the Career Guidance Centre of the Education Ministry, stated that the Mustaqil program represents a breakthrough in assisting students to link academic learning with practical reality.
She said that freelancing has grown in popularity as a career choice due to swift economic changes. She stated that Mustaqil addresses this fact by promoting early professional awareness and assisting pupils in turning their passion for entrepreneurship into viable sources of money.
Halima Ibrahim Al Balushi, Career Guidance Supervisor in Muscat Governorate, emphasized the program's contribution in increasing awareness about digital prospects. According to her, the curriculum trains students how to create professional profiles on freelance websites.
She explained that Mustaqil is an interactive programme that allows pupils to explore their talents in a supportive and professional setting.
The students enrolled in Mustaqil expressed their joy with the programme, stating that it had given them the confidence to engage in entrepreneurial and financial activities. They also emphasized the significance of the workshops, which, according to them, gave them early access to the labor market by providing them with adequate guidance through the Mustaqil program.
Target students' parents also recognized the program's beneficial impact on their children. They said that the curriculum allowed students to make the most of their summer vacation, increased their confidence, taught them about freelancing and artificial intelligence, and gave them strong communication skills.
The Mustaqil exemplifies how institutions can contribute to supporting and empowering youth in accordance with Oman Vision 2040 goals. It helps to create a productive, independent, and entrepreneurship-oriented generation capable of taking the initiative to build a digital, economic future.
