Albawaba Business, Tuesday Aug
7, 2018 | Zul Qaadah 25, 1439
Oman's
Investments in Educational Sector Increase to 130 Percent
“The increase in salaries in 2015 was the main
reason for the increase in expenditure in education,” said Al Hosni. “Salaries
constitute about 88 per cent of the budget of the Ministry of Education.” The
percentage share from total government expenditure also increased last year to
11 per cent, compared with 8 per cent a decade ago.
“In 2011, many new employees were appointed to
the ministry, which led to an increase in the annual budget to meet their
salaries,” he added.
“The employees of the Ministry of Education
represent some 50 per cent of the total number of employees in the government
sector in Oman.”
There are currently 748,464 students enrolled
in public, private, and international schools in the Sultanate, according to the
annual report of the Ministry of Education.
“It is only natural for expenditures to rise
because the devices used in schools have been diversified, and there has also
been an increased interest in developing the teachers’ knowledge by sending them
abroad and training them,” said Sayyid Dr. Said Al Busaidi, a member of the
education committee at the State Council.
There has also been an increase in the number
of public schools in 2017 compared with 2016. There are currently 1,125 public
schools in the Sultanate, serving a total of 579,024 students.
Private schools witnessed a 10 per cent
increase in the number of new schools in Oman.
The number of registered students in 636
private schools totaled 105,680, while 63,760 students were registered in the
country’s 44 international schools.
Data also showed that female students accounted
for 60.8 per cent of the total number of students last year.
To cope with the growing number of students
enrolling in schools around the country, the ministry has increased the number
of teachers in private and public schools to 65,990.
In addition, class sizes have also decreased
over the last decade, with one public school teacher being in charge of an
average of 10.2 students, and one private school teacher in charge of every 11
students.
“As the number of expats increase to almost
half the population, they require schooling as well,” added Al Busaidi. “If you
bring in a foreigner to the country, you must provide them with all the
necessary services, such as education and health.”