Muscat: The commencement of the academic year 2024/2025, which is set to begin on Sunday, marks the resumption of educational activities across various schools in the Sultanate of Oman. This period is dedicated to the preparation of educators, supervisors, members of educational bodies, related professionals, and support groups in anticipation of welcoming students back on Sunday, September 1, 2024.
This academic year, the Omanization rate among government school teachers has reached an impressive 87.6 percent, with a total of 61,195 educators contributing to the educational landscape. These figures are distributed across 1,269 schools, showcasing a significant commitment to local talent within the educational sector.
Similarly, the Omanization rate among administrators and technicians in government schools has seen a commendable 99.8 percent, with a combined total of 10,652 individuals. Among these, 4,306 are male and 6,346 are female, highlighting a balanced representation of both genders in these roles.
In the realm of special education, the number of teachers has increased to 220, with an Omanization rate of 93 percent. Additionally, the total number of administrators in special education schools has risen to 52, maintaining an Omanization rate of 83 percent.
The Ministry of Education has successfully completed the recruitment process for this academic year, including the selection of 691 male teachers, which accounts for 21.3 percent of the total appointments, and 2,542 female teachers, representing 78.7 percent of the newly appointed staff. This effort is aimed at ensuring the fulfillment of the actual staffing requirements across various teaching specializations.
Saif Al Julandani, the Director-General of the Directorate-General of Educational Supervision, emphasized the critical role of teachers in the educational process. He highlighted their pivotal position in imparting knowledge, skills, and life experiences to students, thereby shaping their personalities and preparing them for future life and professional endeavors. This underscores the increasing recognition of teachers' importance within contemporary societies.
He elaborated: "In this context, the Directorate-General of Educational Supervision has extended its support to all newly appointed teachers entering the educational sector for the academic year 2024/2025 across various disciplines. The primary focus is on providing comprehensive support to these educators, assisting them in fulfilling their responsibilities, and familiarizing them with the systems, regulations, and ethical standards that govern the profession. This includes an in-depth understanding of the foundational concepts, principles, and ethics that underpin the teaching profession, as well as the essential qualities required of teachers, their rights and responsibilities, and strategies for planning both daily and semester-long teaching sessions.”
"The program for new teachers also encompasses the principles of planning the teaching process, its various types, and the critical importance of such planning. It introduces new teachers to practical models for different types of planning, familiarizes them with the electronic preparation platform (Classera), and demonstrates how to utilize it effectively. Additionally, it covers the employment of assessment tools to evaluate student learning, the definition and types of measurement and assessment, and the methods for integrating these tools into the teaching and learning process. The program also explains the objectives and importance of supervisory visits.�
Furthermore, it addresses the importance of psychological management in the classroom setting, outlines procedures for managing students' psychological well-being, and provides guidance on applying these strategies in real-world classroom scenarios. It also covers the development of curricula within the Sultanate of Oman, the implementation of curriculum study plans, the use of modern platforms and technologies in education, the role of technology in enhancing the quality of education, and its benefits for both teachers and students. Practical applications of activating the Ministry’s platform (Classera) for distance learning in schools are also discussed.
Khamis Al-Hadidi, the Director-General of the Directorate-General of Projects and Services, discussed the Directorate’s preparations for the upcoming academic year, 2024/2025. He stated, "Sixteen school buildings have been approved for operation at the start of the new academic year. Construction on 15 additional school buildings has commenced, with tenders also being issued for 20 new school buildings. The Ministry is committed to providing the necessary operational requirements for the educational process, adhering to the latest technical and scientific specifications to ensure a conducive environment for the educational setting. This is recognized as a crucial aspect that supports the teaching and learning processes, including the educational additions project."
"During the fiscal year 2024, the Ministry has allocated funds for the completion of additions at 25 schools, with plans to implement additions at an additional 50 schools. The renovation project for the Directorate-General of Education to refurbish several of its schools is also underway, in addition to the preparation and refurbishment of 83 science laboratories. The program has seen the completion of the preparation and refurbishment of 60 science laboratories, with further funds allocated for the enhancement of the educational environment through the establishment and preparation of sports fields, canopies, and cafeterias.
He further stated, "An annual allocation has been sanctioned to facilitate the acquisition of 800 new school transportation vehicles, extend contracts for over 20,000 school transportation vehicles, and establish a collaboration between Karwa Motors Company and the Oman Development Bank aimed at replacing outdated school transportation vehicles under the auspices of the Ministry of Finance."
"This initiative will result in the replacement of nearly 5,000 student transportation means over a five-year period, provided that 1,000 school transportation vehicles are replaced annually, beginning in 2024/2025. These vehicles will be distributed across the governorates of the Sultanate of Oman in a manner that reflects the actual needs of each region."
"In the second phase, a total of 24,000 air conditioning units were supplied and installed. Subsequently, the responsibility has been delegated to various companies to procure and install an additional 44,000 units for the subsequent phases."
Abdullah Al Fouri, the Director-General of the Directorate-General of Education in South Al Sharqiyah Governorate, remarked, "The preparations for the commencement of the new academic year commenced with great urgency, as the Directorate was determined to execute its administrative and technical strategies effectively. An administrative resolution was formulated to ascertain the requirements of schools for the upcoming academic year and to establish both executive and technical committees. These committees were tasked with evaluating the readiness of schools, the progress of maintenance activities, and the preparation of the initial batch of school textbooks, furniture, and educational tools. The distribution of these resources was planned in accordance with a distribution strategy and the allocations received from the Planning and Development Department, with a particular focus on ensuring that all schools receive their necessary supplies prior to the start of the new academic year."
He continued, "The distribution of new senior teachers to schools has been completed in alignment with the needs of each institution. The training programs for new teachers have been diligently followed up, and a comprehensive plan for professional development programs for supervisors has been developed. Additionally, a program for preparing new candidates for the position of assistant school principal has been established, and vocational guidance specialists have been allocated to schools based on their needs. Furthermore, efforts have been made to address vacancies within the educational sector."
Concerning the introduction of new educational initiatives and enhancements, Al Fouri mentioned, "Since the inception of this year, the Projects and Services Department has received all new educational projects. In addition to this, new additions to the educational landscape have been welcomed, including the project to expand Bilad Bani Bu Ali School with eight additional classrooms and a bathroom, and the project to expand Al-Aija School with seven additional classrooms, an upgraded physics laboratory, a teachers' room, and two additional bathrooms."
"Additional projects are being introduced at Al-Imam Al-Salt Bin Al-Qasim School, which boasts eight classrooms, alongside Al-Janan School, featuring four classrooms and a teachers' room. The process for assigning seven additional projects across various schools is nearing completion, including schools such as Munir Bin Al-Nir, Laali Al-Ilm, Al-Suwaih, Al-Asalah, Al-Tasneem, Al-Jawabi, and Sur for basic education. Efforts are also underway to establish and equip 18 laboratories within the governorate's educational institutions.�
Shabib Al Farsi, a chemistry instructor at Al Khalil bin Ahmed Al Farahidi School in South Al Batinah Governorate, expressed his excitement and optimism for the 2024/2025 academic year. He views the start of the new academic year as a fresh opportunity to rejuvenate educational activities and reignite passion for teaching and learning, all while being fully prepared to tackle challenges and achieve set objectives.
"This period of the year is filled with hope and anticipation, as it heralds new opportunities and stimulating challenges. This motivates me to strive for excellence and success. I am eager to return to my duties and engage with my colleagues, who further fuel my motivation to learn and develop. The enthusiasm of the students, the readiness of the teachers, and the stimulating educational environment collectively contribute to my optimism regarding a promising future filled with achievements, which I anticipate to be a remarkable year."
Wafaa Al-Maashani, an Information Technology (IT) teacher at Nasheb Basic Education School in Dhofar Governorate, shared her sentiments on the first day of the school year. She described a mix of longing, joy, and a slight sense of anxiety. However, these feelings dissipated quickly upon meeting her colleagues and the smiling faces of the students. As an IT teacher, she prepares her curriculum by reviewing the semester plan, modifying previous preparations saved in iCloud, and incorporating additional resources to ensure the effective implementation of the curriculum. She also keeps abreast of new developments in the IT curriculum, particularly noting the remarkable progress in the IT curriculum in line with the digital advancements we are experiencing.
