MUSCAT: The Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology has unveiled a programme that enables individuals who have acquired specialised technology certificates to be suitably compensated.
The programme is part of ‘Makeen’ - the Ministry’s national initiative for the rehabilitation of digital cadres with the aim of boosting national tech competencies.
A post on the Ministry’s website explained, “The Professional Certification Support Initiative, launched by the Ministry of Transport, Communications, and Information Technology, is based on the principle of reimbursing beneficiaries for the costs of examinations after obtaining the professional certification.“ “This is done to encourage and motivate national cadres, entrepreneurs, and job seekers to acquire accredited certifications in the field of communications and information technology only, in order to develop their skills and expertise in specialised and in-demand areas in the labour market,” it added.
Under the programme, specialised certifications from over 16 entities including Amazon, Cisco, Microsoft and Oracle, will be supported. However, applicants are only entitled to one reimbursement request per year, not exceeding a value of RO 400. Furthermore, certifications obtained prior to January 1, 2024 will not be eligible for the reimbursement programme.
Eligible applicants can register and apply through the Professional Certification Support Programme’s page on Makeen’s website, where they can submit copies of the certification and receipts of the costs. Approved applicants will receive payments within 40 days from the submission date.
First launched in 2021, the National Initiative for the Rehabilitation of Digital Cadres 'Makeen’ emerged to achieve the goals of the National Programme for the Digital Economy which aims to raise the sector’s contribution to the local GDP from 2 per cent currently, to 5 per cent by 2030 and 10 per cent by 2040.
Since its launch, the Makeen initiative has trained over 5,000 individuals through its various tracks, and aims to employ 10,000 Omanis by the end of 2025.
Speaking to the Observer earlier this year, the Assistant Director Department of Future Skills Development at MoTCIT, Ahmed bin Nasser al Naabi, explained that the initiative’s programmes are tailored based on the needs of demands of global tech companies in an effort to boost local cadres, and thus localising technologies and attracting investment companies.
The initiative currently includes 5 main tracks including: a technical boot camps track, an advanced nano-degree track, a professional specialised qualification track, the technical competitions track, and the technical certificates support track.
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