Education, Scientific Research and Innovation Committee of the Shura Council Meets Specialists from the Ministry of Education

     The Education, Scientific Research and Innovation Committee of the Shura Council held a meeting this morning (Monday) with a number of specialists from the Ministry of Education, as part of its review of the proposed motion concerning the expansion of public–private partnerships through the purchase of educational services for students with special needs and academically high-achieving students. The proposed motion aims to support the principle of community partnership in the educational process, enhance integration between the public and private sectors, promote equity in education and equal access to educational opportunities, and improve the quality of educational outcomes.
During the meeting, a number of initiatives and programs currently being implemented by the Ministry of Education were reviewed, within the framework of its plans to develop the early childhood education system and strengthen mechanisms for identifying and nurturing talent at early stages prior to higher and academic education. Specialists emphasized the importance of building an integrated educational pathway that begins in early childhood, enhances students’ cognitive and skills-based capacities, and prepares them for future requirements.
On the sidelines of the meeting, Ministry specialists delivered visual presentations highlighting the Ministry’s efforts to expand partnerships with the private sector, increase enrollment rates in early childhood education—particularly in remote areas—and improve the quality of educational services provided to gifted students, academically high-achieving students, and students with special needs. The presentations also outlined existing joint programs with private sector institutions to deliver specialized, high-quality educational services in early education and for the aforementioned student groups.
The specialists affirmed that early childhood education constitutes a fundamental pillar for building solid and sustainable learning in later stages, given its significant impact on shaping children’s cognitive, psychological, and social development. They noted that the Directorate of Early Childhood Education continues to work on enhancing the quality of educational services in line with Oman Vision 2040, ensuring the provision of stimulating and safe learning environments that support comprehensive quality in education.
The specialists further provided an overview of the importance of early education in human capital development and outlined future plans to expand coverage to reach a wider segment of students, through strategic partnerships with the private sector across several governorates of the Sultanate of Oman, in line with the objectives of the Eleventh Five-Year Development Plan, and in a manner that balances quantitative expansion with qualitative improvement in educational services.
In a related context, the visual presentations also addressed the Ministry’s efforts to develop mechanisms and tools for identifying gifted students within school education, approved programs for diagnosing and developing their abilities, and existing partnerships with private 


sector institutions and several universities. These initiatives aim to provide specialized educational services tailored to the needs of gifted students, enhance their scientific and creative capacities, and open broader horizons for them in research and innovation.
Members of the Education, Scientific Research and Innovation Committee commended the Ministry of Education’s continued efforts in supporting early education and nurturing gifted students, valuing the initiatives and programs presented, which reflect the Ministry’s commitment to developing the educational system and strengthening partnerships with relevant sectors.
Subsequently, Committee Members raised a number of inquiries and interventions focusing on the Ministry’s strategic vision regarding partnerships with the private sector in early education, gifted education, academically high-achieving students, and students with special needs, in light of clear quantitative objectives such as enrollment rates, service quality, and inclusion indicators, with the aim of positioning partnerships within a national framework. They also inquired about the existing legal frameworks governing partnerships between the Ministry of Education and the private sector, mechanisms for accountability and continuous evaluation of partnership outcomes, and the criteria used by the Ministry to assess the impact of partnerships on education quality and student learning outcomes across the three categories.
Further inquiries addressed the regulatory safeguards ensuring students’ rights, access to scholarships, and the fair and equitable provision of services to all groups. Committee Members also highlighted the key challenges facing programs dedicated to nurturing gifted students, whether in early identification or sustainability of support, stressing the need to expand coverage to a larger segment of students across all governorates of the Sultanate of Oman, and to develop an integrated institutional framework implemented by the Ministry in partnership with the private sector to ensure program continuity and achieve the desired impact.
In conclusion, Members of the Committee emphasized the importance of assessing the Ministry’s actual need for partnerships with the private sector, and the extent to which advanced scientific mechanisms are required to identify gifted and academically high-achieving students, integrate them into advanced educational programs, and accurately diagnose cases of students with special needs.
The meeting was held as part of the fifth regular meeting of the third ordinary session of the Shura Council, chaired by the Chairman of the Education, Scientific Research and Innovation Committee, and attended by Members of the Committee, within the Council’s ongoing efforts to monitor national education policies and programs and strengthen integration between the legislative and executive authorities in support of comprehensive development in the Sultanate of Oman.