Digitalisation of curricula to empower teachers
The event was held under the auspices of Eng Said bin Hamoud al Maawali, Minister of Transport, Communications and Information Technology, and was attended by Dr Madeeha bint Ahmed al Shaibaniyah, Minister of Education.
In his speech, Dr Abdullah bin Khamis Ambusaidi, Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Education for Education, emphasised the unprecedented opportunities brought about by digital technologies to enhance the quality of education.
'Education is no longer confined within the four walls of the classroom. It has become a vast space that transcends geographic boundaries and provides both students and teachers access to rich and diverse learning resources.'
He said that the project directly empowers teachers with modern educational tools to deliver content more effectively and creatively while offering students a flexible and comprehensive learning experience that aligns with their individual needs and abilities.
He added by saying that the project is an integral part of a broader vision for digital transformation in education, laying the foundation for a technology-based, future-oriented learning ecosystem.
Yousuf bin Mohammed al Ojaili, President of BP Oman, expressed the company's pride in partnering with the Ministry of Education, stating that the initiative aims to empower teachers and enrich students' learning experiences through greater interactivity. He emphasised that the collaboration highlights the vital role of public-private partnerships in driving innovation and leaving a sustainable impact on education in Oman.
The event featured a visit to a model interactive classroom, where a group of teachers and students presented sample lessons using digital textbooks and interactive screens. A short documentary on the project's development journey was also shown, followed by the official digital book launch and the honouring of BP Oman as the project's main sponsor.
The digitisation process went through several key stages, beginning with the preparatory phase, which involved defining the technical and educational specifications for the digital content. This was followed by content analysis, scenario development, and quality review.
Each digital book required up to 80 hours of review, totalling more than 4,800 hours for 60 books. A trial phase was then conducted in selected schools to gather feedback and refine the content. The final stage involves publishing the digital books through the ministry's Educational Technologies Portal and later via the Noor platform's digital repository, in line with broader national digital transformation projects. Media campaigns will also accompany the rollout to raise awareness.
Dr Mona al Siyabi, Head of the Technical and Scientific Team for Digitising the English Language, said: 'In line with Oman Vision 2040, we have launched the first phase of developing digital interactive books for Omani schools. This phase focuses on transforming traditional textbooks into engaging digital formats for the early grades.
"These new digital books are rich with interactive features, including games, activities and videos, designed to enhance the learning experience for students and support teachers in the classroom. They also serve as a helpful resource for parents at home. We aim to expand this effort to cover grades 5 through 12 in the upcoming stages."
Currently, these interactive books are being piloted in selected schools, and we are collecting feedback from teachers and students to evaluate their experience and identify areas for improvement.
The ministry aims to develop and transform traditional curricula into interactive digital content within the national educational platform. The project seeks to offer a variety of digital resources for different learning styles, support distance education using information and communication technology, foster self-learning and collaborative learning and equip students with future-ready skills. Ultimately, it aims to improve the quality of education, enhance student performance and provide accessible and effective digital learning tools.
The project comprises 6 phases... the preparatory phase, the analysis phase, the educational scenario preparation phase, the digital production phase, a pilot phase and the digital book propagation phase (giving access to digital content via the e-learning portal and later via the Noor system).
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Times of Oman
a day ago
- Times of Oman
Global economy in major problem if Russian oil exports disrupt, India's impact limited to $5bn annually: Report
New Delhi: If Russian oil exports were to be disrupted, it could create a major problem for the global economy, however, for India, the impact is expected to be limited, according to a report by Bank of Baroda. The report stated that according to estimates, the effect on India's oil import bill would be around USD 5 billion annually, an amount considered manageable given the country's overall trade size. It stated, "For the world economy there could be a greater problem if there is a full embargo on Russian oil exports". The report mentioned that India's crude oil sourcing pattern has changed significantly in recent years. Before the Ukraine war in 2021-22, Russia's share in India's crude oil imports was modest. By 2024-25, however, Russia emerged as the largest supplier, followed by Iraq with a 19 per cent share, Saudi Arabia with 14 per cent, and the UAE with nearly 10 per cent. Together, these four countries accounted for almost 80 per cent of India's oil imports in 2024-25. The United States' share, which had been high in the past, fluctuated and stood at a lower level in recent years. In terms of prices, there is considerable variation among suppliers due to factors such as logistics, quality, and purchase timing. In 2024-25, Iraq offered the lowest average price at USD 76.83 per barrel, followed closely by Russia at USD 78.39 per barrel, about USD 1.56 lower than India's overall average price. The June 2025 data showed the average import price for India at around USD 69 per barrel, with Russia, Iraq, Kuwait, Nigeria, and Brazil offering prices below USD 70 per barrel. Interestingly, Russian oil was not the cheapest that month, as Kuwait and Iraq sold at lower rates. India imported around 244 million tonnes of crude oil in 2024-25, roughly 1.8 billion barrels. Every USD 1 increase in oil prices translates to about USD 1.8 billion in additional import costs. Given that June's average price was only USD 2.50 above Russian levels, the report highlighted that the potential impact would be absorbable. It stated, "The overall impact hence would not be more than USD 4.5-5 bn on an annual basis. Given that overall imports of goods were USD 720 bn, this would not be a significant increase which cannot be absorbed". Globally, the stakes are higher. Russia accounts for about 10 per cent of global oil supply, and a complete embargo could push prices above USD 80 per barrel in the short term which as per report will strain economies worldwide until alternative supplies are arranged.
Times of Oman
3 days ago
- Times of Oman
Maseer and bp Oman Empower Omani Youth Through 'Discover Yourself' Program
Muscat: In partnership with bp Oman, Maseer concluded the first edition of its 'Discover Yourself' youth development programme which was held in the mountains of Jabal Al-Akhdar. The initiative gathered over 100 young Omanis from diverse backgrounds to engage in a transformative journey of self-reflection, leadership, and experiential learning. The programme represented a wide cross-section of Oman's youth, from university students to job seekers, with a focus on engaging individuals from certain governorates such as Ad Dhahirah and Musandam, with 107 total participants, in which approximately 50% were job seekers. 'Discover Yourself' was designed to strengthen essential life and career skills such as teamwork, communication, leadership, and critical thinking, all within an immersive natural setting. Over the course of the programme, each participant rotated through various roles in group activities, and introduced them to health, safety, and environmental principles (HSE), reinforcing the value of responsible decision-making in real-world settings. Mohammed Al-Rawahi, CEO of Maseer, remarked: 'The programme 'Discover Yourself' which was designed for jobseekers, sponsored by bp Oman, was an experience filled with challenges for us at Maseer in terms of preparation, implementation and reaching to the targeted audience. However, despite the challenges, we were able to achieve great results, overcoming the expectations whereby the engagement with the programme was huge and inspiring.' Ibrahim Al Hinai, Social investment manager at bp Oman, Kuwait, and Qatar, added, 'As Oman continues its march toward Vision 2040, initiatives like this stand as crucial platforms for youth empowerment, environmental stewardship, and national development. This programme supported many jobseekers and students in discovering their hidden strengths, building their confidence and skills, and realigning their goals and future pathways.'
Times of Oman
4 days ago
- Times of Oman
Smart Cities in Oman: A quest for harmonious path between heritage, modernity
Muscat: The Sultanate of Oman is striving to develop smart cities that align with contemporary demands while fostering a connection between the past and present, embodying national identity and its imperatives as part of urban transformation. The vision for the construction sector emphasises enhancing the harmony between heritage and modernity through innovative and distinctive approaches. This is clearly reflected in the integrated efforts to promote urban sustainability and human-centric development. Smart cities are being shaped by strategies that redefine the relationship between people and space, improve infrastructure, enhance quality of life, and accelerate economic growth. National identity and its requirements are evident in projects aligned with "Oman Vision 2040." Sultan Haitham City stands as a prime example of smart cities, striking a balance between modernity and cultural distinctiveness while serving as a model for future urban development and a promising investment destination. In this context, Hassan bin Ali Al Shukri, an architect at the Executive Office for Smart City Projects in the Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning, states: "Smart cities in Oman are not merely digital infrastructures but tools for revitalizing identity and improving quality of life. They draw inspiration from traditional Omani architecture and its deep understanding of the environment and societal behavior. Oman adheres to timeless architectural principles that seamlessly integrate with modern technologies, such as smart sensing systems, lighting control, and climate simulation." Al Shukri added that traditional Omani architecture offers an advanced functional model, utilizing local building materials that reduce emissions and provide natural thermal insulation. Windows and mashrabiyas (lattice screens) intelligently regulate ventilation and lighting, while compact urban planning incorporates shaded pathways to encourage walking and reduce street heat. He explained that Oman's smart cities take cues from history to shape a future rooted in people's environment and culture, transforming heritage concepts into sustainable practical solutions. Omani heritage—including systems like aflaj (traditional irrigation), earthen buildings, and narrow alleyways—provides a scalable design framework for smart cities. These elements become effective tools for reducing energy consumption, improving air quality, guiding pedestrian movement, and enhancing visual and urban harmony. He emphasized that the foundations of Omani architecture—environmental adaptation, sustainable construction, terrain harmony, and intelligent resource management—must endure in smart cities. Oman can translate this approach by blending tradition with innovation, prioritizing community over technology, and promoting smart tourism linked to identity. On his turn, Dr. Haitham Najim Al Abri, an architect and researcher specializing in Omani architecture and urbanism, noted that Oman possesses a unique distinctiveness in building arts and urban planning, reflecting the ingenuity of Omanis in harmonizing with nature and respecting resources. The wisdom and skills of ancestors have laid a solid foundation passed down through generations. He explained that Omanis have long understood how to build cities adaptable to diverse terrains—from mountains to coasts, deserts to oases—while preserving identity and sustainability. Al Abri stated that smart cities are not mere replicas of global models but an extension of ancestral ingenuity, where technology enriches rather than erases identity. The new generation of Omani engineers are called to be guardians of this legacy, innovating in ways that prove Oman knows how to build its future without forgetting its past. The Omani smart city is not one that emerges from scratch but a renewed city where historical contexts thrive. Amid the global race toward digital transformation, Al Abri pointed out local challenges in preserving architectural and cultural identity within smart cities. However, these challenges can become opportunities through a balanced approach. Key challenges include the standardized import of global models, weak digital documentation of architectural heritage, conflicts between technology and social values, a shortage of local professionals skilled in both heritage and smart city technologies, and economic costs. To address these, he proposed solutions such as localizing innovation, comprehensive digital documentation of Omani architecture, enacting legislation mandating identity integration in design, hybrid education combining heritage and technology, and smart partnerships. Oman, he noted, possesses the potential to reconcile authenticity and innovation. Meanwhile, Abdulaziz Mohammed Al Balushi, a property owner in Sultan Haitham City, highlights how heritage values are integrated into the technical infrastructure of smart cities, blending modern technology with authentic Omani principles. There is a clear respect for privacy in neighborhood and home designs, ensuring family spaces remain protected, while the social fabric is maintained through mosques, communal gathering spaces (majlis), and parks that encourage social interaction. He adds that the visual and design character of Omani smart cities creates a living experience rooted in authenticity yet open to innovation. The visual language emphasizes Omani identity through architecture inspired by local history, such as traditional arches and engravings, while incorporating modern design elements like smart lighting, interconnected green spaces, and smart pedestrian and cycling paths. This fusion offers residents a living experience where they feel connected to Omani heritage while benefiting from modern conveniences.
