Oman to hire 4,000 teachers in 2025/2026
Muscat – Majlis A'Shura hosted Dr Madiha bint Ahmed al Shaibani, Minister of Education, on Wednesday to discuss the ministry's progress in school education policies, quality of education, human resource development, training and private school education in the sultanate.
Dr Madiha highlighted the continued growth of the education sector, driven by government support and Royal Directives of His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik. The number of students in government schools increased from 678,000 in the 2020/2021 academic year to 817,000 in 2024/2025, marking a 20.5% growth. The number of schools is also set to rise, reaching 1,306 in 2025/2026, compared to 1,182 in 2020/2021, reflecting a 10.4% increase.
The ministry has expanded teacher recruitment, appointing 15,000 Omani teachers in the first four years of the 10th Five-Year Plan, compared to 6,800 during the ninth plan. An additional 4,000 teachers – primarily Omanis – are expected to join in 2025/2026, taking the total number of teachers appointed under the current plan to over 19,000.
The number of private and international schools, including kindergartens, increased to 1,223 in the 2024/2025 academic year from 880 in 2019/2020 – up 39%. Student enrolment in private schools has also grown from 189,000 in 2019/2020 to 233,000 in 2024/2025, including 96,000 in pre-school education.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Observer
3 days ago
- Observer
His Majesty exchanges Eid greetings with leaders
MUSCAT: On the advent of Eid Al Adha 1446 AH, His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik has exchanged cables of greetings with kings and leaders of the Arab and Islamic countries. In his cables, His Majesty the Sultan expressed his sincere sentiments and best wishes to them and the peoples of their countries. His Majesty prayed to Allah the Almighty for the return of this and similar occasions on them and on peoples of their countries, as well as all Muslims around the world with blessings and bounties. On their turn, the leaders expressed their sincere greetings and best wishes to His Majesty the Sultan and the Omani people. They prayed to Allah the Almighty to grant His Majesty good health and well-being. They also prayed to the Almighty for the return of this and similar occasions on His Majesty at a time his people has achieved further progress and prosperity in various spheres. — ONA HM receives Eid greetings from officials His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik has received Eid Al Adha greetings from some officials in the Sultanate of Oman. They expressed their sincere greetings to His Majesty on this happy occasion. They wished His Majesty good health, happiness and a long life, praying to the Almighty Allah for the return of this and similar occasions on His Majesty at a time the Omani people enjoy further progress and prosperity. His Majesty the Sultan received the greetings from: HH Sayyid Fahd bin Mahmood al Said, Deputy Prime Minister for the Council of Ministers; HH Sayyid Shihab bin Tarik al Said, Deputy Prime Minister for Defence Affairs; Sayyid Khalid bin Hilal al Busaidy, Minister of the Diwan of Royal Court; Gen Sultan bin Mohammed al Numani, Minister of the Royal Office and Head of the Office of the Supreme Commander; Shaikh Abdulmalik bin Abdullah al Khalili, Chairman of the State Council; Khalid bin Hilal al Maawali, Chairman of Majlis Ash'shura; Lt Gen Hasan bin Mohsin al Shraiqi, Inspector General of Police and Customs; and Lt Gen Said bin Ali al Hilali, Head of the Internal Security Service. HM greets citizens, residents MUSCAT: His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik has addressed a message of greetings to Omani citizens, residents in the Sultanate of Oman and to the Islamic nation on the occasion of Eid Al Adha. A statement to this effect was issued by the Diwan of Royal Court. It reads as follows: 'Amid the grace of these blessed days during which pilgrims perform the rituals of Haj pilgrimage for the Year 1446 AH — and, as Muslims in the east and the west of the globe anticipate the sunrise of the 10th of Dhul Hijjah, glorifying the Almighty Allah throughout these propitious days — His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik addressed a message of greetings to Omani citizens, residents on the land of Oman and the whole Islamic nation on the occasion of Eid Al Adha. His Majesty the Sultan prayed to the Almighty Allah to endow all with many happy comebacks of this auspicious occasion, and similar events, and bring back the Eid at a time all relish the bounties of health and long life. His Majesty wished that these blessed days would be a time of prosperity, peace and amity. May Allah the Almighty grant His Majesty the Sultan a long life and make him witness many happy returns of these divine days, and May He bestow His blessings and bounties on the Sultanate of Oman and its noble people! Happy Eid Al Adha to All.' — ONA
Observer
5 days ago
- Observer
HM to offer Eid Al Adha prayers at Sultan Qaboos Mosque in Nizwa
His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik will offer Eid Al Adha 1446 AH prayers on Friday at Sultan Qaboos Mosque in the Wilayat of Nizwa, Governorate of Al Dakhiliyah, said a statement by the Diwan of Royal Court on Wednesday. The text of the statement reads as follows: 'His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik will offer Eid Al Adha 1446 AH prayers at Sultan Qaboos Mosque in the Wilayat of Nizwa in the Governorate of Al Dakhiliyah. Along with His Majesty the Sultan, the Eid Al Adha prayers will also be offered by some of Their Highnesses members of the Royal Family, Al Busaid dignitaries, ministers, advisers, commanders of the Sultan's Armed Forces (SAF), the Royal Oman Police (ROP) and other military and security services, some members of the State Council and the Majlis Ash'shura in the Governorate of Al Dakhiliyah, under-secretaries, walis, shaikhs and citizens. On this blessed occasion, the Diwan of Royal Court is honoured to extend sincere greetings to His Majesty the Sultan, praying to Allah the Almighty to protect His Majesty and grant him good health and happiness. It wished the Omani people and residents as well as the Muslim nation abundant blessings and bounties.' — ONA
Observer
5 days ago
- Observer
Calls for Omanisation freeze counterproductive
While relevant authorities are working to employ, train, and qualify Omanis for work in various available economic sectors, and to raise the percentage of "Omanisation" among qualified personnel in required specialties, today we find some countries attempting to distort this national and sovereign demand by proposing the idea of freezing "Omanisation" in some companies established through foreign investments. For more than three weeks, numerous messages and appeals have been circulating in the social media from citizens addressing government officials not to accept any condition restricting the employment of national workers in these companies in the event of bilateral trade agreements. This would lead to a doubling of the number of foreign employees in commercial establishments operating in the Sultanate, which would increase their control over the fate of Omanis and their ability to decide. This will also lead to a decline in the qualification opportunities for Omanis in these institutions. And ultimately will lead to an increase in annual remittances of expatriates to their home countries, thereby reducing liquidity in the domestic market. Many people view this country's request to freeze the "Omanisation" policy in the free trade agreement as a form of guardianship over the Omani labour market. When a country seeks to permanently guarantee its labour in vital sectors in another country, this sets a dangerous precedent that undermines the sovereignty of national decision-making. We know that foreign investment in any country seeks economic freedom, even in hiring its own workers, to reduce the final cost of any product or service. However, each country has its own laws, particularly regarding the employment of a certain percentage of national workers in these institutions, and Oman is no exception. However, I do not believe that the goal of freezing Omanisation will create chaos in the Omani market, as some suggest. However, there is a possibility that this could lead to some diplomatic tensions in specific commercial areas, which could be avoided by clarifying the country's policies. The world has experienced some problems resulting from the presence of its workers in other countries over the past decades. In certain cases, the issue of national labour or economic policies was used as a means to strain relations or improve a particular domestic situation. In international relations, there are solutions to resolve such disputes, and countries work to resolve them diplomatically to avoid escalation. We must view these issues and matters objectively, because governments typically seek to protect their national interests, and disputes related to labour and economic policies are often resolved through dialogue and agreements. The volume of Oman's foreign trade with countries around the world is increasing annually, and the quality of foreign investment projects is also increasing. Oman imports numerous products and goods, from around the world. And any demand to freeze the "Omanisation" policy will lead to a decline in demand from these countries. Furthermore, such a demand will lead to a decline in demand for joint big projects from such countries. All of these projects are part of efforts to enhance economic cooperation between countries, especially since recent years have witnessed an increase in the volume of investments and joint projects between Oman and these countries. Therefore, the presence of national labour alongside expatriate labor is a matter of sovereignty, and no country can propose a vision that excludes national labour from working in its country.
