Salalah – Dhofar governorate is advancing a package of education infrastructure projects valued at around RO19.224mn, covering new school buildings, extensions, renovation and maintenance works as part of efforts to expand capacity and strengthen the learning environment.

Dr Maysoun bint Bakheet Al Shihri, Director General of Education in Dhofar, said that the Directorate General is implementing and monitoring projects across various wilayats of the governorate in line with the Ministry of Education’s efforts to develop educational infrastructure and enhance the readiness of school buildings.

Integrated school buildings account for the largest share of the investment, at approximately RO13.161mn. The projects include modern schools with large capacities in areas experiencing educational demand and student growth. They are currently at different stages, including implementation, operating orders and budget procedures.

The directorate is also following up on 16 school extension projects with a combined value of more than RO3.229mn. The projects include additional classrooms, teachers’ halls, laboratories, service facilities and sports grounds, alongside related modification and maintenance works. A number of projects have been completed and handed over, while work continues on others.

According to Dr Maysoun, government schools in Dhofar have 70,686 students during the 2026/27 academic year, including 34,904 boys and 35,782 girls. They are distributed across 243 schools, comprising 50 boys’ schools, 22 girls’ schools and 97 co-educational government schools, in addition to 74 educational institutions.

The governorate has 6,715 teachers, including 2,320 males and 4,395 females.

The directorate has completed teacher appointments, transfers and the distribution of new recruits based on actual requirements, while more than 1,200 newly appointed teachers were covered by an induction programme.

Preparations are also under way for external review of 21 schools through integrated support and follow-up plans.

Meanwhile, the travel and tourism specialisation under the vocational and technical education pathway is being expanded, with a new intake of 100 students at Al Saidiyah School for Boys and Khawla bint Hakim School for Girls in Salalah.