Muscat – The Ministry of Finance has shortlisted ten companies for a public-private partnership (PPP) scheme to build and operate 42 new schools across the sultanate.

In a tweet on Monday, the ministry announced the names of successful bidding companies in the request for qualification (RFQ) stage.

‘Ten companies qualified to compete for the implementation of the first package for design, finance, construction and maintenance of 42 schools under the PPP agreement,’ the ministry stated.

According to the ministry, the objective of the project is construction of 42 public schools through PPP to meet the growing demand for schools and improve the quality of educational facilities.

The shortlisted companies are: Aberdeen Standard Investcorp Infrastructure Partners, Tamasuk Holding, Al Madina Real Estate, Vision International Investment Company, Galfar Engineering & Contracting, Oman Investment Corporation, Lamar Holding, Renaissance Services, Muscat National Development & Investment (ASAAS), and Alghanim International General Trading & Contracting.

The ministry initially received expressions of interest from 170 companies for the project and 14 companies participated in the RFQ round.
Of these, ten bidding companies were shortlisted after evaluation of RFQ applications.

The next step in the implementation of the project is to call the shortlisted firms for the request for proposal (RFP) tender.

The Ministry of Finance is entrusted with the supervision of implementing PPP agreements to encourage the private sector to invest in infrastructure and public services alongside the Ministry of Education (MoE).

In March, MoE unveiled details of a plan to set up 76 new schools in different parts of Oman.
Majid bin Said al Bahri, Undersecretary for Administrative and Financial Affairs in MoE, said that the schools project was initiated following His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik’s directives issued at Bait Bahjat al Andhar in Sohar in March to set up schools in different parts of the country.

“The new schools will lower student density in classrooms and reduce the number of evening classes. Of the 76 schools, 19 will be set up in Muscat, 17 in North Batinah, 11 in South Batinah, nine each in South Sharqiyah and Dhofar, five in Dakhliyah, two each in Buraimi and Musandam, and one each in North Sharqiyah and Dhahirah,” Bahri added.