The Education, Higher Education, and Scientific Research Committee of the Shura Council convened this morning at the council building, hosting His Excellency Majid bin Said Al Bahri, Deputy Minister of Education for Administrative and Financial Affairs. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss various educational and academic matters pertinent to the Sultanate of Oman.

Among the topics deliberated during the meeting were the challenges associated with school transportation, particularly concerning the Ministry's newly imposed safety regulations for school buses. Discussion also revolved around the Ministry's plan to privatize the school bus sector in Oman.

Furthermore, the meeting addressed the Ministry's plans for nationalizing teaching positions within governmental educational institutions. Attendees reviewed the current rate of nationalization in private educational institutions, as well as the Ministry's protocols for contracts with foreign teachers.

Additionally, the meeting delved into the criteria and procedures followed by the Ministry regarding internal and external transfers of teachers. The importance of integrating school guards into the Ministry of Labor's financial grading system was 
emphasized, along with a discussion on the employment of female school workers through private contracting companies.

The meeting also explored the Ministry's strategy for resolving issues related to evening schools and addressing the shortage of school buildings. Moreover, discussions were held regarding the Ministry's partnership projects with the private sector in constructing new schools and the Ministry's requirements for such projects.

This meeting took place during the committee's sixth regular meeting for the first annual session of the tenth term (2023-2027), under the chairmanship of His Excellency Jamal bin Ahmed Al-Obaidi, with the presence of other esteemed members of the committee.