Muscat – Ministry of Education (MoE) has finalised preparations for the 2024-2025 academic year, which will commence on September 1.
The ministry has confirmed the appointment of 3,233 new teachers for the new academic year. This includes 691 male teachers (21.3%) and 2,542 female teachers (78.7%). These appointments are intended to address the current demand for teaching staff across various specialisations.
According to the latest statistics, the number of teachers in government schools has reached 61,195, distributed across 1,269 schools, with Omanisation rate of 87.6%.
Additionally, there are 10,652 administrators and technicians in these schools – 4,306 males and 6,346 females – with Omanisation rate of 99.8%.
In special education schools, there are 220 teachers, with Omanisation rate of 93%, and 52 administrators, with Omanisation rate of 83%.
16 new school buildings
Khamis bin Mubarak al Hadidi, Director General of Projects and Services at MoE, informed that 16 new school buildings will be operational at the start of the 2024-2025 academic year.
Construction has also begun on 15 new school buildings, and tenders are open for construction of 20 additional schools.
He stated that RO7mn has been allocated for renovating several schools during the fiscal year 2024. Additionally, over RO4mn has been set aside to refurnish 83 science laboratories, while RO3mn will be invested in enhancing the educational environment through establishment and upgrading of sports fields and other facilities.
RO4.8mn for 800 new buses
An annual budget of RO4.8mn has been allocated for procurement of 800 new school buses and renewal of contracts for over 20,000 buses for students. MoE has also signed an agreement with Karwa Motors and Development Bank to replace 5,000 school buses over the next five years.
“Starting from the 2024-2025 academic year, 1,000 school buses will be replaced each year, with the buses distributed across the governorates based on actual need,” Hadidi said.
He also informed that MoE continues to train school bus drivers as part of a preventive driving programme in cooperation with Traffic Safety Institute and Petroleum Development Oman. This effort aims to provide continuous training for bus drivers to keep them informed about the latest driving and safety practices, contributing to a safe and reliable transportation environment.
Additionally, the ministry continues to implement the VIA road safety education programme aimed at students aged 10-18 in cooperation with Shell Oman. Initially conducted in four schools during the 2022-2023 academic year, the programme – now called Road Friends – will be implemented in 33 schools across various governorates in the new academic year, targeting approximately 1,320 students.
