Education & Training

Evolving rapidly over a short period, education and training play a key role in Oman’s long-term development plans. From three schools in the country prior to 1970, the sultanate’s general education sector has expanded to include 1647 public, special education, private and international schools, with a total of 724,395 pupils, including kindergarteners and preschoolers. Enrolment is compulsory for 10 years of basic education and free for all Omani citizens. Progress has been reflected in significant improvements in the adult literacy rate, which reached 94.8% in 2015, up from 81% a decade earlier, and in 2013/14 the higher education segment was served by 18 public colleges, 20 private colleges, one state university and seven private universities. This chapter contains an interview with Pankaj Khimji, Director, Khimji Ramdas; and Director, Muscat University