Muscat – Oman is intensifying its efforts to combat adult illiteracy, leveraging the power of digital and social media platforms to expand the reach of adult education. A total of 2,623 individuals across Oman have enrolled in adult literacy programmes for the academic year 2022-2023.

Recent data from the Ministry of Education (MoE) reveals a 2.60% illiteracy rate in the 15 years and older category. Committed to the goals set by the Arab Decade for Eradication of Illiteracy (2015-2024), Oman is striving for a zero illiteracy rate by 2024.

The sultanate’s focus on the crucial demographic of 15-44 years has borne fruit – the illiteracy rate in this category reduced from 2.2% in 2015 to 0.44% by the end of 2022.

National Centre for Statistics and Information data further breaks down the enrollment in adult literacy programmes for 2022-2023. Of the 2,623 students enrolled, 2,535 are female.

At the governorates level, Muscat has 293 enrollments, including 272 female students, followed by Dhofar with 130 students, of which 105 are female; Musandam 44 (all females); Buraimi 60 (all females); Dakhliyah 300, of which 293 are female; North Batinah 568 (all females); South Batinah 360 (all females); South Sharqiyah 293 (all females); North Sharqiyah 116, of which 111 are females; Dhahirah 217, of which 215 are female; and Al Wusta 242, of which 214 are female.

The total number of educators engaged in the adult literacy programmes across governorates for the academic year 2022-2023 is 413.