Oman

Over 800,000 students go back to school today

 
MUSCAT: A total of 811,679 students are attending schools today across the country to start their new academic year 2024-2025. The number includes 409,122 male students and 402,557 female students.The number of students in grades (1-4) is 307,765 of whom 155,449 are males and 152,316 are females. The number of students in grades (5-8) is 275,953 of whom 138,621 are males and 137,332 are females. In grades (9-12), the number of students is 227,961 of whom 115,052 are males and 112,909 are females while the total number of new students enrolled in the first grade is 74,078.

The total number of the educational staff in government schools is 63,648 teachers as well as 10,987 administrators and technicians of whom 4,362 are males and 6,625 are females. The number of teachers in special education schools stands at 219 teachers whereas the total number of administrators is 29.

On the occasion of the start of the school year, Dr Madeeha bint Ahmed al Shaibaniyah, Minister of Education, valued the development and achievements which took place at the educational sector, saying: “I am honoured to extend to His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik on behalf of the students, members of the teaching staff and all employees of the Ministry of Education, the highest expressions of thanks and the most profound words of gratitude for the special care and great attention His Majesty attaches to the educational sector.” The minister also congratulated her students in public and private schools, special education schools, and members of the teaching staff wishing them success in the new school year.



The minister said that the ministry appointed over 3,000 male and female teachers prior to the 2024-2025 academic year bringing the total number of appointed teachers since the outset of the current five-year plan to nearly 15,000 teachers.

Regarding the developments in the education system, Dr Madeeha said: “Developing curricula is one of the ministry’s top priorities with the aim of enhancing students’ abilities to keep pace with global developments. Accordingly, the ministry will embark upon gradual implementation of the developed study plan which is based on classifying the study materials for the first cycle classes into basic subjects and accompanying subjects while reducing the number of subjects in order to focus on basic skills: reading and writing in both Arabic and English languages and mathematics.”

In continuation of the ministry’s plan for digital transformation and artificial intelligence, the second phase of projects will be implemented that ensure the operation of advanced educational e-systems and e-services that are consistent with modern digital specifications while continuing to implement the initiatives of the executive programme for artificial intelligence in school education, the minister said.

Dr Madeeha indicated that this academic year saw the opening of 16 new schools in a number of governorates to meet the growth in student number and reduce evening schools.