Salalah – The Directorate General of Education in Dhofar Governorate is taking bold steps to enhance the educational landscape in line with Oman’s national vision for sustainable development. With a current total of 227 schools—166 government and 61 private—the governorate serves over 80,628 students supported by 6,244 teachers and 1,504 administrators and technicians.

Dr. Maizoon bint Bakhit al Shahri, Director General of the Directorate, highlighted the region’s strategic plans to meet future needs. These include the construction of new schools, improvement of existing infrastructure, and integration of modern technology into classrooms. By the end of 2025, two new schools in Awqad and Sahalnout in Wilayat Salalah are expected to be operational, along with 12 ongoing educational environment improvement projects and STEM lab enhancements in schools across Maqshan, Thumrait, Shaleem, and the Hallaniyat Islands.

The private sector is also playing a significant role. The Rabkoot Basic Education School wing, funded by Oman Oil Development Company, stands as a testament to public-private collaboration. Furthermore, an agreement has been signed to build another school in the Habrout Triangle in Al Mazyouna.

In the past year, Dhofar received four new school buildings, undertook 11 school upgrade projects, and renovated nine others. Science labs across several schools were also refurbished.

Professional development remains a priority, with over 3,300 educators trained through programs offered at the governorate’s training center and the specialized institute. Meanwhile, innovation continues to shape the classroom experience, with the introduction of chatbots for competitions, digital learning tools for students with special needs, and new e-platforms such as ‘English Fun’ and an interactive Quran teaching platform.

Student achievements have also made headlines. Fatima al Rawas secured a silver medal at the Gulf Chemistry Olympiad, while other students won regional and national awards in innovation, robotics, and scientific competitions. The Osama Bin Zaid school football team clinched the national title, and the Dhofar Education team triumphed at the Omani Journalists Association’s first sports championship.

To ensure educational continuity, the directorate launched 89 school initiatives to boost attendance, achieving over 94% in December 2024 and January 2025. The ‘Performance and Commitment’ program now offers real-time data tracking to improve decision-making and educational outcomes.

Recent events hosted in Dhofar, such as the Gulf Student Forum for Financial Culture and the Gulf Day for Talent and Creativity 2025, reinforce the governorate’s role as a hub for educational innovation. Students have also represented Oman internationally, including at the UNESCO Special Education Forum in Paris and the Jeju Youth Forum in South Korea.

Dr. Shahri reaffirmed the directorate’s commitment to building a sustainable, inclusive, and globally competitive education system that empowers future generations.