مجلس التعليم

An extract from a speech by the late Sultan Qaboos bin Said, may his soul rest in peace, on the occasion of the 24th National Day, 18 November 1994

"There was a high purpose in our efforts to prepare the Omani people in order to dedicate themselves to the service of their country. To do so, it was essential to provide comprehensive education for all, and to link this education with our culture and historic traditions, on the one hand and with all elements of modern life on the other. Therefore, schools and institutes have been established everywhere in Oman, and they are increasing in quantity and quality according to community requirements and the policy designed to meet them. From this base and since the teaching of Islamic studies at university level is currently being conducted by several different Government bodies, with different curricula, which could result in anomalies in graduates levels of educational knowledge and thought, it is our desire to unite the responsibility for this teaching in one establishment in order to improve and enhance this education. We have therefore issued our orders to study the establishment of a new College of Jurisprudence and Law in Muscat that will produce graduates in all branches of these disciplines. This will provide Oman with the qualified persons it needs. In addition, a study is now being pursued for the establishment of a Higher Institution in Nizwa which will provide members of the Judiciary for the courts. The entrants to this Institution will be university graduates in Jurisprudence and Law. On graduation they will be awarded a Higher Diploma as members of the Judiciary.

The challenges of the future are enormous. Enlightened mentality, comprehensive knowledge and high technical skills are the essentials to meet them. Therefore, it is necessary for the education system to work hard to provide these requirements in good time in order to achieve these goals in the development of the community, so the community may keep pace with those in other fields. This is the task that the education system must shoulder. It is the duty of everyone of us to work for its success".