The educational system in Oman follows a 6-3-3 structure: 6 years of primary education, 3 years of lower secondary education, and 3 years of upper secondary education. After completing these three stages, students proceed to university and higher education.

During the three years of high school, students can choose a specialized field of study, such as arts or basic sciences. Alternatively, instead of high school, they can enter technical and vocational institutes in Oman and pursue a technical field. After completing the technical education program, students are prepared for the job market. Additionally, if they wish, they have the option to continue their education at the next level (bachelor’s degree).

 

Historical Background of Education in Oman

“Al-Zawi” was the first school in Oman, established in 1871 in the city of Muscat. The school was managed by the local mosque’s imam and provided education in the Quran, religious principles, and the Arabic language. Al-Zawi was later closed in 1988. However, the official history of education in Oman dates back to 1930 during the reign of Sultan Said bin Taimur (the late father of Sultan Qaboos). Sheikh Ahmed bin Sulaiman, considered the father of education in Oman, was one of Sultan Said’s teachers, instructing him in mathematics and the Quran.

Subsequently, schools such as Al-Rahil in the city of Sohar, Bayada Bilstak, and Al-Durrah in Bahla were established. Later, Al-Buteeniah School for boys and girls was founded in a rented house. This school had a curriculum, and students attended six daily classes in subjects like Quran, Arabic, geography, history, and mathematics.

The first semi-governmental school in Oman was “Al-Saidiyah,” established in 1940 in Muscat. In addition to classrooms, this school had separate rooms for teachers and a special room for the administration. Its educational services included two phases: the initial primary education, which took two years, and the secondary primary education, which took about six years. The school was very popular among the public, and its branches quickly grew, leading to the establishment of fully governmental schools and the provision of free education for all in Oman.

Since 1930, the Omani government has faced numerous challenges in the field of education, ranging from the significant distances between population centers to the diversity of ethnicities, traditions, and languages. Consequently, significant reforms have been implemented to modernize the country’s educational infrastructure.

 

Schools in Oman

In Oman, there are four main types of schools:

1. Public Schools: Managed by the Ministry of Education, these schools are open to all students regardless of nationality. Tuition is free, but apart from English, all subjects are taught in Arabic.
2. Private Schools: Operated by the private sector, these schools charge relatively higher tuition fees. Their curriculum usually combines various programs such as American, British, or IB (International Baccalaureate).
3. International Schools: These are managed by international organizations like the Council of International Schools (CIS) or the Association of International Schools and Colleges (CISCE). Their curriculum is based on international education systems such as British, Cambridge, or IB systems.
4. Embassy-Affiliated Schools: Run by the embassies of different countries in Oman, the curriculum in these schools is based on the educational system of the respective country.

Pre-University Education System in Oman

Oman’s education system is divided into three stages: primary, preparatory, and secondary education. Additionally, there are educational centers for adults to combat illiteracy.

Education in Oman is free up to the end of secondary school. Besides free public schools, private schools also exist in the country, and the government encourages the increase in the number of such schools. The curriculum and exams in private schools are coordinated with those in public schools.

 

Preschool Education

Before starting primary education in Oman, there is a preschool stage specifically for children under 7 years old. The key objectives of this stage include:

• Balanced development of the child’s personality in mental, spiritual, emotional, social, and ethical dimensions.
• Strengthening Islamic principles, enhancing Arabic language proficiency, and fostering children’s awareness of their country, symbols, customs, and traditions.
• Teaching children to develop positive attitudes and behaviors and promoting cooperation among children.
• Fostering children’s interest in arts.
• Introducing children to various aspects, activities, and social features of the Sultanate of Oman, and providing them with opportunities to collaborate.
• Giving children the opportunity to make maximum efforts and allowing them to express their feelings, opinions, and questions.
• Preparing children for school education.

Preschool programs for Omani children are offered both publicly and privately. However, Omani families do not highly prefer enrolling their children in preschools, and in major cities, on average, only 70% of eligible children attend these schools.

In the Sultanate of Oman, the supervision of preschools is the responsibility of the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs. Educational activities in this stage include teaching certain artistic subjects through play to children aged 3 to 6. In recent years, the Ministry of Education has been developing a new curriculum focused on Omani civilization, the importance of the environment, and cultural heritage for children in this stage.

Preschool centers operate for 4 hours, from 8 AM to 12 noon. The teacher is responsible for time allocation for various activities within this period. The teacher-student ratio in preschools is 1:20.

Primary Education in Oman

The primary education stage for students in the Sultanate of Oman lasts 6 years, starting at the age of 7 and continuing until the age of 13.

The Ministry of Education in Oman has defined the following educational objectives for this stage:

• Helping students acquire skills that enable them to understand their social, environmental, and economic surroundings.
• Preparing students for continuing their education in the next stage.
• Tailoring educational programs according to the academic grade.

Lower Secondary Education

The lower secondary education stage in Oman lasts for 3 years, starting at the age of 13 and continuing until the age of 15.

Upper Secondary Education

The upper secondary education stage lasts for 3 years, starting at the age of 15 and continuing until the age of 18.

The educational fields in this stage are structured such that the first year is common for all students. However, in the second and third years, students are divided into two groups: Science (Natural Sciences) and Arts (Humanities). Upon completion, students receive a secondary school graduation certificate in either Humanities or Natural Sciences. There is also a technical secondary education program, where graduates receive an Industrial or Commerce secondary diploma.

The educational objectives of this stage include:

• Strengthening the mental, social, and spiritual growth of students.
• Guiding students to acquire scientific thinking skills and self-learning abilities.
• Preparing students for professional life, responsible citizenship, and higher education.