Puppet theatre initiative to promote sustainable development in childhood
Muscat: The first phase of the Mobile Puppet Theatre Project was launched to promote sustainable development concepts in early childhood. The event was held under the auspices of Majid bin Said al Bahri, Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Education for Administrative and Financial Affairs.
The initiative was launched by the Ministry of Education, represented by the Omani National Commission for Education, Culture and Science, and the Omani Qatari Telecommunications Company (Ooredoo).
The first phase targeted children aged three to six years in twenty schools in Muscat. It aimed to instil sustainable development concepts in early childhood through live, interactive, educational and entertaining theatrical performances using puppets. These performances covered various areas such as preserving natural resources, eradicating poverty, promoting health and education. The initiative also aimed to introduce young people to the art of puppet theatre and to benefit from the educational content provided through stories and theatrical performances. Additionally, the initiative was unique in its ability to move between different schools, as the puppets were designed in Omani school uniforms.
Dr Mahmoud bin Abdullah al Abri, Secretary of the Omani National Commission for Education, Culture and Science, emphasised that the Sultanate of Oman was among the first countries to submit its country initiative on education for sustainable development to Unesco. This initiative served as a national roadmap based on five main axes: policies, the educational environment, teachers, youth and the local community.
The first phase targeted children aged three to six years in twenty schools in Muscat.
The Ministry of Education, represented by the Omani National Commission for Education, Culture and Science, continued its efforts in this area by implementing numerous training workshops, seminars and awareness-raising projects in cooperation with regional and international partners. One notable effort was the preparation of a guide to promote sustainable development concepts in the school environment, in cooperation with the Unesco Regional Office in Doha.
"The puppet theatre consists of 20 portable theatres that can be easily carried between schools and within schools. It includes four puppets and a collection of stories. In its first phase, it covers five Sustainable Development Goals related to education, eradicating hunger and poverty, health and gender equality," said Khalid al Maawali, Assistant Director of the Education Sector at the Omani National Commission for Education, Culture and Science.
Khawla al Amri, Chief People Officer at Ooredoo, said, "Although the entire world is paying great attention to digitisation and modern technologies, studies have warned of the dangers of children's exposure to screens and digital devices in their early years. However, it remains essential to develop their sensory, visual auditory, and motor skills to nurture their curiosity and enhance communication skills from their early formative years, limit their use of devices and provide them with more life skills."
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