Educational system in Oman Ali Sharaf Al Musawi

2 Objectives At the end of this lecture, the students will be able to:  Recognize various developments occurred in the Omani Educational System

3 Background  In three boys schools with 909 students.  H.M. Sultan Qaboos talked about the importance of education on the 2nd. National Day 18th November 1972: “Education was my great concern, and I saw that it was necessary to direct efforts to spread education. We have given the Ministry of Education the opportunity and supplied it within our capabilities to break the chains of ignorance. Schools have been opened regardless; the important thing is that there should be education, even under the shadow of trees’

4 Background

5 Spread of Education: Schools Growth in the number of schools between 1970 and 2000

6 Spread of Education: Students Growth in the number of students between 1970 and 2000

7 Spread of Education: School Types

8 Spread of Education: Classes

9 Spread of Education: Students

10 Faculty Makeup: Nationality & Gender Primary Schools

11 Faculty Makeup: Nationality & Gender Preparatory Schools

12 Faculty Makeup: Nationality & Gender Secondary Schools

13 Faculty Makeup: Nationality & Gender Totals for All Schools

14 Time for Change A.In 1994, Report from Ministry of Education on obstacles it is facing and how to improve the outcomes. B.In 1995, Government reply in vision 2020 for the following goals: 1.Continue spreading education in all parts of the country. 2.Improve the current curricula taking into account what is current in science and technology advancement. 3.Improve the educational practices to also include current technology in education. 4.Advance staff development technically and administratively. 5.Create a basic education that can prepare students to continue their education or join the work force. 6.Prepare students that can join work force with minimum training.

15 Time for Change C.In 1995, Ministry of Education prepared a report on how to implement the new education reform. D.Fifth five year plan focused on the development of human resources. E.In 1997, His Excellency the Minister of Education at Majlis Al-Shura stressed the importance of the reform and shared with members the new changes.

16 Remembering Students First!

17 Major Changes 1.Changing the structure of the Ministry of Education with the Royal decree 91/97 and the Ministerial decree 36/97. 2.Revising the aims of Education. 3.Abolishing the afternoon schools.

18 Remembering Students First!

19 Introducing Basic Education  A unified 10 year education, provided by the government in the Sultanate of Oman for all children of school age.  It meets their basic education needs in terms of knowledge and skills, enabling them to continue their education and training according to their interests, aptitudes and dispositions.  It also prepares them to face the challenges of present circumstances and future development in the context of comprehensive social development.

20 It is clear from this definition that Basic Education is aiming at:  an integration between theory and practice, thought and work, education and life  comprehensiveness in developing all aspects of a whole personality  the acquisition of self-learning skills in the context of a lifelong education  inculcating the values and practices necessary for mastery and excellence in learning and teaching  meeting the needs of human development in the context of comprehensive social development Introducing Basic Education

21 Introducing Basic Education Basic Education has two cycles:  Basic Education has two cycles: Grades 1 - 4Cycle one Grades Cycle two  The Implementation started in with 17 schools and with 30 students in a classroom

22 Introducing Basic Education The Spread of Basic Education Schools in the regions between 1998 and 2000

23 Faculty Makeup: Nationality & Gender Basic Education Schools

24 Remembering Students First!

25 Extending the School Year Comparing the length of school years of various countries

26 Extending the School Day From 4.5 hours to 6.5 hours  From 4.5 hours to 6.5 hours  Extending class periods from 35 to 40 minutes  Extending the school day from 6 to 8 periods

27 Extending the School Day Subjects Number of hours in the Present System Number of hours in the Reform The Difference English Language Mathematics Science Computer Skills 0264

28 Remembering Students First!

29 Improving the Curriculum A.In the content of the curriculum, the main improvements are based upon four changes: 1.Reducing the theoretical content 2.Connecting the material to the student’s lives. 3.Connecting the curriculum to the student’s environment. 4. Aligning the content and the plan of the curriculum with the student’s level at each educational stage. B.In teaching methods: 1.Teachers stay away from basing their teaching and evaluation on rote memorization. 2.Concentrating on learning through experience.

30 Remembering Students First!

31 Remembering Students First!

32 Facilities 1.Learning Resource Centers (LRC) 2.Computer Labs 3.Science (Rooms / Labs) 4.Environmental Life Skills Rooms 5.Music Rooms 6.Multi Purpose Rooms

33 Improving the Curriculum LRC

34 Student Assessment Before the Implementation After the Implementation  achievement-based approaches  student progress measured and evaluated against stated criteria  learning objectives according to the ability of individual students  a range of teaching strategies to allow for individual differences  students know the criteria they are to be assessed on in advance  attainment-based approaches  student progress measured and evaluated in comparison to others in the class  learning objectives for the class as a whole classroom managed to allow class to progress at same pace  classroom managed to allow class to progress at same pace  student unclear of the assessment criteria

35 Student Assessment Before the ImplementationAfter the Implementation formative assessment of a wide range of aspects of learning  formative assessment of a wide range of aspects of learning  a wide range of assessment techniques  students are given opportunities to review their own progress against criteria  evaluation and reporting on students on achievement indicators basis summative assessment concentrating of factual content  summative assessment concentrating of factual content  a limited range of assessment techniques  teacher decides on progress of students  evaluation and reporting on students on a pass/fail, percentage, rand order basis

36 Other Projects 1.Examination Reform Project 2.School Review Project 3.Use of Computers in Schools 4.Secondary Education Project 5.Career Guidance Project 6.Economics and Administrative Sciences 7.Evaluating First Cycle of Basic Education