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
European Expats in Oman
As a European expat in Oman, one has chosen a country that makes it comparatively easy for foreign workers and immigrants. Oman is a country that has been undergoing an enormous economic upturn for years. This also means that there is still a great demand for skilled workers from other countries in the country. Especially the advancing development of the industry in Oman, which aims to ensure increasing independence from the oil and gas sector, continuously brings interesting contracts to companies from all over Europe in Oman. The assembly and commissioning of industrial plants can take sever...
Arabian Horses
As the name suggests, the origin of Arabian Horses lies on the Arabian Peninsula. However, among Arabian Horses, there are different breed groups such as purebred or half-bred Arabs and Shagya or Anglo-Arabs. They look different but share some common characteristics. Generally, Arabian Horses are spirited, enduring, and willing to work, but also sensitive and human-oriented. This makes them very popular as leisure horses. They are well-suited for longer trail rides and distances. High temperatures and humidity pose no problem for Arabs, as they served as mounts for the Bedouins for many hundre...
Bedouins in Oman
Classically viewed, a Bedouin is a desert dweller who wanders as a nomad through the desert. Historically, nomads generally moved from grazing land to grazing land to ensure the survival of their herds and their respective tribe. The people in the coastal regions of Oman settled down long ago. In the fishing villages and smaller trading ports, people have lived as 'Hadr' for centuries—a term used to describe settled coastal dwellers. The Bedu (the term for desert tribes in Oman), on the other hand, have mostly settled down in recent decades. How many Bedouins are there in Oman? The country i...