An elderly man with glasses and a checkered headscarf squinting in bright sunlight, sitting outdoors with a blurred blue background.

Literacy

Literacy

Written by: Luca Krohn , Philip Eichkorn and Michaela Eckmüller Last updated at: May 21, 2025

That the topic education is given such high importance that nearly a quarter of the civil expenditures of the state budget flows into the education system was not always the case in Oman. Until 1970, there were only Quran schools in the country, primarily focused on imparting religious values, as well as three public schools. These were boys' primary schools, with one located in Muscat, in Mutrah and in Salalah . In the entire country, only 909 students were taught by around 30 teachers. It was only in the following years that a school system was established, which is provided free of charge to the people of Oman and certainly stands out in terms of its quality in the Arab world. However, the generations who did not benefit from a good school system were not forgotten in the design of education policy.

Illiteracy – a problem of the older generation

Due to the growth of the education system in Oman, the gap in education between young and old naturally widened. But Sultan Qaboos has also established a good adult education system alongside the increasingly better school system. There are now around 250 adult education centers and over 180 literacy centers open to every adult citizen of Oman. Here, anyone who wishes can be taught in reading and writing in Arabic as well as in various other educational programs.

Literacy is advancing in all parts of the country

While people in cities have been quickly and effectively integrated into the education system in recent decades, such developments are progressing more slowly in the rural areas. Since Oman is a vast country, with some parts only very sparsely populated, creating educational opportunities in these areas can often be challenging. Nevertheless, it has been possible to reach the desert regions, smaller villages, and towns in oases or on the edge of the deserts and promote literacy here. Especially older women extensively and gladly take advantage of the opportunities for adult education in the country, as they had very few chances in the past to learn to read and write.

Discover Oman with experts who have called it their home

Your dream holiday, tailor-made by experts.

We don't just know Oman from books, we visit the country several times a year to experience the culture, landscape and people first-hand.

From your first enquiry to your return home, we are there for you personally - by phone, email or WhatsApp, whenever you need us. Our trips are as unique as you are: individually planned and provided with exclusive privileges and high-quality arrangements that will make your trip unforgettable.

You might also like this

A narrow water channel running through a rocky desert landscape in Oman, with some green bushes and cliffs in the background.

The Falaj

2 min read

The Falaj is a unique style of water channel located in Oman and forms a system of irrigation. In 2006, five of these “Aflaj” (“Aflaj”-is the plural of Falaj) systems were listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. According to legend, the Afalaj, the world's most sophisticated water systems, were built under the reign of King Solomon. These incredible irrigation canals were created to alleviate the plight of the people in the arid regions. According to research, the Persians established these unique canal systems. The simple and effective underlying principles of the Falaj comprise a sophisticat...

Two pilots seated in the cockpit of an airplane, preparing for a flight.

Air Traffic in Oman

2 min read

The air traffic in Oman has now been well developed. The route network is well organized and utilized by various airlines, allowing for healthy price competition. Leading in Oman is, of course, the state airline 'Oman Air' based in Muscat. Thanks to several national and international airports, air traffic in Oman is well organized. The country is easily accessible for both cargo and passenger planes. Entry possibilities Those who want to travel to Oman have three options: You can reach the country on the Persian Gulf by cruise, cross the border by car or bus from Dubai, or fly to Oman from ...

A camel standing in a desert with saddles and supplies on its back, with dunes and small structures in the background.

Camels in Oman

3 min read

The Arabian camel and favorite of the population of Arabia is actually a dromedary. The one-humped Camelus Dromedarius differs from the also well-known two-humped Bactrian camel. Both species belong to the family of Camels. The habitat is found in large parts of Asia and Africa. As a wild animal, the dromedary is extinct and only exists domesticated as a beast of burden. No matter how abandoned a camel looks in the vast desert, it always has an owner. There is evidence from Arabia that dromedaries have been domesticated for about 3,200 years. The one-humped camel has a body or shoulder height...