Literacy
Literacy
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.
Experts for your Oman trip
You might also like this
Travel Weather Musandam
The climate of the northernmost region of Oman is characterized as subtropical. While the winters (December to February) are very mild with daytime temperatures around 25°C, summer months can see temperatures rise up to 43°C. The maritime weather usually keeps nighttime temperatures from dropping below 17°C. On average, there is only precipitation on 38 days a year. In Musandam there is constant wind due to its exposed location. The best travel time for Musandam starts in early October and ends in April....
Education System
When Sultan Qaboos Ibn Said seized power in 1970, the education system in the country was outdated and in no way future-oriented. There were only three boys' primary schools in the largest cities of the country, alongside the exclusively religiously motivated Quran school. At that time, only about 900 students were taught by 30 teachers. Given the population of approximately 700,000, the number of students at that time was very small. From the beginning of his reign, Sultan Qaboos had the plan to lead his people into an era of prosperity and progress. His success in this can be attributed, on...
Sea turtles
Sea turtles and the coastal landscape of Oman have formed a symbiosis for thousands of years. These prehistoric reptiles are, however, threatened with extinction and are protected worldwide. For this reason, the government of Oman has established several nature reserves along the coast. The approximately 2000 km long coastline of the country serves as an important site for egg-laying and thus reproduction for sea turtles. It is the most important breeding ground for sea turtles in the Indian Ocean. Of the seven species of sea turtles that live worldwide, five nest on the beaches of Oman. This ...