The Directorate General of Education for Dhofar Governorate is making dramatic strides towards improving the country's education scene according to Oman's vision for sustainable development. Comprised of 227 schools, 166 government and 61 private, the governorate caters to more than 80,628 students with support from 6,244 teachers and 1,504 administrators and technicians.
Dr. Maizoon bint Bakhit al Shahri, Director General of the Directorate, emphasized the strategic plans of the region to address future needs. These encompass the building of new schools, upgrading existing facilities, and the incorporation of modern technology in the classroom. Two new schools in Awqad and Sahalnout in Wilayat Salalah will be operational by the end of 2025, in addition to 12 ongoing projects to improve the educational environment and STEM lab upgrades in schools in Maqshan, Thumrait, Shaleem, and the Hallaniyat Islands.
The private sector is also taking an important part. The Oman Oil Development Company-funded Rabkoot Basic Education School wing is an example of public-private cooperation. In addition, a memorandum of understanding has been signed for the construction of another school within the Habrout Triangle of Al Mazyouna.
Last year, Dhofar received four new school buildings, carried out 11 school improvement projects, and refurbished nine. Science laboratories in some schools were also renovated.
Professional development is also a continued focus, with more than 3,300 teachers trained under programs conducted at the governorate training center and the specialized institute. Innovation meanwhile continues to drive the classroom experience, with the launch of chatbots for competitions, digital learning tools for special needs students, and new e-platforms like 'English Fun' and an interactive Quran teaching platform.
Student success has also been in the news. Fatima al Rawas won a silver medal at the Gulf Chemistry Olympiad, and other students received regional and national prizes in innovation, robotics, and science competitions. The Osama Bin Zaid school football team won the national championship, and the Dhofar Education team won the Omani Journalists Association's inaugural sports championship.
To provide educational continuity, the directorate initiated 89 school initiatives to increase attendance, recording more than 94% in December 2024 and January 2025. The 'Performance and Commitment' program now provides real-time tracking of data to enhance decision-making and education outcomes.
These include recent events that have been hosted in Dhofar, for example, the Gulf Student Forum for Financial Culture and the Gulf Day for Talent and Creativity 2025, that enhance the governorate's status as a center for educational innovation. Students from Oman have also participated internationally, including at the UNESCO Special Education Forum in Paris and the Jeju Youth Forum in South Korea.
Dr. Shahri restated the directorate's vision to establish a sustainable, inclusive, and internationally competitive education system that enables generations to come.
