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

Educational system in Educational system in OmanOman

Ali Sharaf Al MusawiAli Sharaf Al Musawi

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ObjectivesObjectives

At the end of this lecture, the students will be At the end of this lecture, the students will be able to:able to:

Recognize various developments occurred in Recognize various developments occurred in the Omani Educational Systemthe Omani Educational System

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BackgroundBackground In 1970 - three boys schools with 909 students.In 1970 - three boys schools with 909 students.

H.M. Sultan Qaboos talked about the importance of H.M. Sultan Qaboos talked about the importance of education on the 2nd. National Day 18th November education on the 2nd. National Day 18th November 1972:1972:““Education was my great concern, and I saw that it was necessary to direct efforts to 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 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 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 opened regardless; the important thing is that there should be education, even under the shadow of trees’the shadow of trees’

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BackgroundBackground

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Spread of Education: SchoolsSpread of Education: Schools

Growth in the number of schools between 1970 and 2000Growth in the number of schools between 1970 and 2000

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Spread of Education: StudentsSpread of Education: Students

Growth in the number of students between 1970 and 2000Growth in the number of students between 1970 and 2000

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Spread of Education: School TypesSpread of Education: School Types

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Spread of Education: ClassesSpread of Education: Classes

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Spread of Education: StudentsSpread of Education: Students

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Faculty Makeup: Nationality & Faculty Makeup: Nationality & GenderGender

Primary SchoolsPrimary Schools

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Preparatory SchoolsPreparatory Schools

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Secondary SchoolsSecondary Schools

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Totals for All SchoolsTotals for All Schools

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Time for ChangeTime for ChangeA.A. In 1994, Report from Ministry of Education on obstacles it is In 1994, Report from Ministry of Education on obstacles it is

facing and how to improve the outcomes.facing and how to improve the outcomes.B.B. In 1995, Government reply in vision 2020 for the following In 1995, Government reply in vision 2020 for the following

goals:goals:1.1. Continue spreading education in all parts of the country.Continue spreading education in all parts of the country.2.2. Improve the current curricula taking into account what is Improve the current curricula taking into account what is

current in science and technology advancement.current in science and technology advancement.3.3. Improve the educational practices to also include current Improve the educational practices to also include current

technology in education.technology in education.4.4. Advance staff development technically and administratively.Advance staff development technically and administratively.5.5. Create a basic education that can prepare students to Create a basic education that can prepare students to

continue their education or join the work force.continue their education or join the work force.6.6. Prepare students that can join work force with minimum Prepare students that can join work force with minimum

training.training.

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Time for ChangeTime for ChangeC.C. In 1995, Ministry of Education prepared a report on how In 1995, Ministry of Education prepared a report on how

to implement the new education reform.to implement the new education reform.D.D. Fifth five year plan 1996 - 2000 focused on the Fifth five year plan 1996 - 2000 focused on the

development of human resources.development of human resources.E.E. In 1997, His Excellency the Minister of Education at In 1997, His Excellency the Minister of Education at

Majlis Al-Shura stressed the importance of the reform Majlis Al-Shura stressed the importance of the reform and shared with members the new changes.and shared with members the new changes.

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RememberingRemembering

Students First!Students First!

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Major ChangesMajor Changes

1.1. Changing the structure of the Ministry of Changing the structure of the Ministry of Education with the Royal decree 91/97 and the Education with the Royal decree 91/97 and the Ministerial decree 36/97.Ministerial decree 36/97.

2.2. Revising the aims of Education.Revising the aims of Education.3.3. Abolishing the afternoon schools.Abolishing the afternoon schools.

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Introducing Basic EducationIntroducing Basic Education A unified 10 year education, provided by the A unified 10 year education, provided by the government in the Sultanate of Oman for all children of government in the Sultanate of Oman for all children of school age. school age.

It meets their basic education needs in terms of It meets their basic education needs in terms of knowledge and skills, enabling them to continue their knowledge and skills, enabling them to continue their education and training according to their interests, education and training according to their interests, aptitudes and dispositions. aptitudes and dispositions.

It also prepares them to face the challenges of present It also prepares them to face the challenges of present circumstances and future development in the context circumstances and future development in the context of comprehensive social development.of comprehensive social development.

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It is clear from this definition that Basic Education is aiming at:It is clear from this definition that Basic Education is aiming at:

an integration between theory and practice, thought and work, education an integration between theory and practice, thought and work, education and lifeand life

comprehensiveness in developing all aspects of a whole personalitycomprehensiveness in developing all aspects of a whole personality

the acquisition of self-learning skills in the context of a lifelong educationthe acquisition of self-learning skills in the context of a lifelong education

inculcating the values and practices necessary for mastery and excellence inculcating the values and practices necessary for mastery and excellence in learning and teachingin learning and teaching

meeting the needs of human development in the context of meeting the needs of human development in the context of comprehensive social developmentcomprehensive social development

Introducing Basic EducationIntroducing Basic Education

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Introducing Basic EducationIntroducing Basic Education Basic Education has two cycles:Basic Education has two cycles:

Grades 1 - 4Grades 1 - 4 Cycle oneCycle one

Grades 5 - 10Grades 5 - 10 Cycle twoCycle two

The Implementation started in 1998 - 1999 with 17 schools and with 30 The Implementation started in 1998 - 1999 with 17 schools and with 30 students in a classroomstudents in a classroom

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Introducing Basic EducationIntroducing Basic Education The Spread of Basic Education Schools in the regions between 1998 and The Spread of Basic Education Schools in the regions between 1998 and 20002000

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Basic Education SchoolsBasic Education Schools

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Extending the School YearExtending the School Year

Comparing the length of school years of various countriesComparing the length of school years of various countries

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Extending the School DayExtending the School Day From 4.5 hours to 6.5 hoursFrom 4.5 hours to 6.5 hours

Extending class periods from 35 to 40 minutesExtending class periods from 35 to 40 minutes

Extending the school day from 6 to 8 periodsExtending the school day from 6 to 8 periods

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Extending the School DayExtending the School Day

SubjectsNumber ofhours in the

Present System

Number ofhours in the

Reform

The Difference

English Language 541 1200 659

Mathematics 933 1776 843

Science 635 1200 565

Computer Skills 0 264 264

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Improving the CurriculumImproving the CurriculumA.A. In the content of the curriculum, the main improvements are based upon In the content of the curriculum, the main improvements are based upon

four changes:four changes:1.1. Reducing the theoretical contentReducing the theoretical content2.2. Connecting the material to the student’s lives.Connecting the material to the student’s lives.3.3. Connecting the curriculum to the student’s environment.Connecting the curriculum to the student’s environment.4.4. Aligning the content and the plan of the curriculum with the student’s Aligning the content and the plan of the curriculum with the student’s

level at each educational stage.level at each educational stage.

B.B. In teaching methods:In teaching methods:1.1. Teachers stay away from basing their teaching and evaluation on rote Teachers stay away from basing their teaching and evaluation on rote

memorization.memorization.2.2. Concentrating on learning through experience.Concentrating on learning through experience.

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FacilitiesFacilities

1.1. Learning Resource Centers (LRC)Learning Resource Centers (LRC)2.2. Computer LabsComputer Labs3.3. Science (Rooms / Labs)Science (Rooms / Labs)4.4. Environmental Life Skills RoomsEnvironmental Life Skills Rooms5.5. Music RoomsMusic Rooms6.6. Multi Purpose RoomsMulti Purpose Rooms

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Improving the CurriculumImproving the Curriculum

LRCLRC

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Student AssessmentStudent AssessmentBefore the Implementation After the Implementation

achievement-based approachesachievement-based approachesstudent progress measured and student progress measured and evaluated against stated criteriaevaluated against stated criterialearning objectives according to learning objectives according to the ability of individual studentsthe ability of individual studentsa range of teaching strategies to a range of teaching strategies to allow for individual differencesallow for individual differencesstudents know the criteria they students know the criteria they are to be assessed on in advanceare to be assessed on in advance

attainment-based approachesattainment-based approachesstudent progress measured and student progress measured and evaluated in comparison to others evaluated in comparison to others in the classin the classlearning objectives for the class as learning objectives for the class as a wholea whole classroom managed to allow class classroom managed to allow class to progress at same paceto progress at same pace student unclear of the assessment student unclear of the assessment criteriacriteria

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Student AssessmentStudent AssessmentBefore the Implementation After the Implementation

formative assessment of a wide formative assessment of a wide range of aspects of learningrange of aspects of learninga wide range of assessment a wide range of assessment techniquestechniquesstudents are given opportunities to students are given opportunities to review their own progress against review their own progress against criteriacriteriaevaluation and reporting on evaluation and reporting on students on achievement indicators students on achievement indicators basisbasis

summative assessment summative assessment concentrating of factual contentconcentrating of factual content a limited range of assessment a limited range of assessment techniquestechniquesteacher decides on progress of teacher decides on progress of studentsstudentsevaluation and reporting on evaluation and reporting on students on a pass/fail, percentage, students on a pass/fail, percentage, rand order basisrand order basis

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Other ProjectsOther Projects1.1. Examination Reform ProjectExamination Reform Project

2.2. School Review ProjectSchool Review Project

3.3. Use of Computers in SchoolsUse of Computers in Schools

4.4. Secondary Education ProjectSecondary Education Project

5.5. Career Guidance ProjectCareer Guidance Project

6.6. Economics and Administrative SciencesEconomics and Administrative Sciences

7.7. Evaluating First Cycle of Basic EducationEvaluating First Cycle of Basic Education

Documents

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