Muscat – The Directorate General of Education started a winter programme for gifted students on Sunday at Sultan Qaboos Youth Complex for Culture and Entertainment in Salalah. Spread over five days, the programme is a step in nurturing young talent in Dhofar governorate.

Dr Maison bint Bakhit al Shehri, Director General of Education in Dhofar, said, “The programme, which is part of the Tharwa 2 initiative, focuses on 27 exceptionally talented students. Our collaboration with civil society organisations enables us to offer specialised workshops in diverse areas such as artificial intelligence and engineering.”

Maison emphasised the fact that the Tharwa programme aligns with the goals of Ministry of Education (MoE) for Oman Vision 2040. It aims to bolster national capabilities, foster the development and optimal utilisation of student talents, and assist gifted students in exploring scientific fields of future interest. The programme also focuses on imparting comprehensive research skills across various disciplines, while encouraging community engagement to enhance student abilities and talent management.

Suhail bin Salem al Mehri, Assistant Director of Special Education and Continuous Learning at the directorate, added, “Our curriculum encompasses a range of subjects including entrepreneurial futures, personal strategic planning, electrical application fundamentals, artificial intelligence and its applications, principles of engineering design, health science basics, and qualities of successful leadership.”

The Ministry of Education implements the Tharwa programme across different governorates. It is designed to identify students with exceptional creative and innovative capabilities, assess their intelligence levels, and raise awareness in local communities about the importance of recognising and nurturing gifted individuals.