BASIC EDUCATION REFORM IN OMAN

This paper outlines the development of a new educational reform in the Sultanate of Oman called the ‘Basic Education’ system which has been underway since 1998. It aims to meet the needs of all students by creating an environment in which students learn how to learn and acquire the tools for life-long learning. The reform covered all aspects of schooling from the learner as the heart of the educational process to the curriculum, teaching methods, and the assessment. The shift in Basic Education from traditional teacher-centered learning to student-centered learning has required a great deal of effort and dedication from all those involved in delivering the new programme. The paper demonstrates how the new educational reform is drastically changing the picture of education in the Sultanate compared to the previous traditional educational system. Some lessons from the innovation-based and pedagogical experiences accumulated from employing the system will be discussed.