(MENAFN- Muscat Daily) In a major achievement that paves way for long-term sustainable development, Oman has recorded a 50 per cent increase in adult literacy from 1999 to 2011, meeting the fourth goal from the list of six set at the World Education Forum (Dakar 2000) with 2015 as the deadline. It is also close to meeting the second goal of providing free and compulsory primary education to all.
''Oman could decrease adult illiteracy by 50 per cent. This is considered a good indicator for sustainable development,'' said H E Dr Madeeha bint Ahmed bin Nassir al Shibaniyah, Minister of Education at the Global EFA (Education For All) annual meet on Wednesday at Al-Bustan Palace, Ritz Carlton Hotel.
''Oman has helped more than 98 per cent of children in the sultanate to get primary education,'' she said talking about the second EFA goal of providing free and compulsory primary education to all.
Also, Oman has crossed by a big margin the 25 per cent target on expanding early childhood care and education, to reach 40 per cent.
''These indicators confirm the commitment of the sultanate in achieving the goals,'' H E Dr Madeeha said.
The fifth goal is achieving gender parity by 2005, gender equality by 2015. H E Dr Madeeha said that these had been achieved 20 years ago.
As of 2013, Oman had 1,043 government schools and 53,195 teachers for over 514,667 students, half of whom were girls. These numbers in 2000 were 1,010 government schools, 28,385 teachers and 567,997 students.
The Education For All Global Monitoring Report 2013-14 shows that 57mn children who have reached school going age lack education because they don't have access to schools. Basic education currently needs to be funded with US$26bn.
Speaking to media, H E Dr Hamoud Khalfan al Harthi, Undersecretary for education and curricula in the Ministry of Education said, ''Currently, the focus is on forming a strategy on education and implementing it soon. The Council of Education is studying possible restructuring of education.''
It is working on a draft policy that incorporates guidelines of Vision 2040.
THE SIX EFA GOALS (Dakar Framework for Action)
1) Expand early childhood care and education
2) Provide free and compulsory primary education for all
3) Promote learning and life skills for young people and adults
4) Increase adult literacy by 50 per cent
5) Achieve gender parity by 2005, gender equality by 2015 and
6) Improve the quality of educati
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