This assessment was prepared in 2025 under the supervision of a technical steering committee that included the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Social Development, the Ministry of Health, and the Oman Vision 2040 Implementation Follow-up Unit. It addressed the assessment of the extent to which the child-friendly education approach is appropriate and effective in the various components of the education system in the Sultanate of Oman.

The Child-Friendly Education Initiative was jointly developed by the Ministry of Education and UNICEF to create an attractive and child-friendly learning environment, promote a system that places the child at the center of the educational process, and emphasizes the principles of inclusivity and participation. The Child-Friendly Education Initiative also directly contributes to achieving the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goal 4, which focuses on ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education and promoting lifelong learning opportunities for all.

Since the initiative was launched as a pilot phase in nine schools across three governorates in 2012, the initiative has witnessed continuous growth, leading to its generalization in schools in different educational governorates in 2022.

The assessment was conducted in a participatory and comprehensive manner, which included field consultations and visits to a number of educational governorates in the Sultanate of Oman, with the active participation of children, including children with disabilities, along with parents, school principals and teachers. This contributed to enriching the assessment process with diverse perspectives and enhanced the alignment of the results with the real experiences of the school community in the various governorates of the Sultanate.

The launch ceremony featured a welcoming speech from the Ministry of Education, delivered by Shanoona bint Salim Al-Habsi, the Sultanate of Oman's representative to the UNICEF Executive Board at the United Nations in New York and Assistant Director-General for Special Education. She emphasized the close strategic partnership between the Government of the Sultanate of Oman and UNICEF, which has resulted in the implementation of numerous vital initiatives focused on the development of children and adolescents, including children with disabilities.

A representative from the Arab Children's Parliament, representing the Directorate-General of Education in the Al-Dakhiliyah Governorate, also delivered a speech, outlining the experiences and aspirations of children and youth regarding the second edition of the Child-Friendly Education Guide. The key findings of the evaluation were also presented. Following the official launch, attendees participated in participatory workshops, during which four multi-sectoral working groups were formed to develop the overall framework for an implementation plan. This included integrating key performance indicators (KPIs), clearly defining priorities and responsibilities, and establishing coordination mechanisms.

The workshop’s outputs are set contribute to the development of the second version of the Child-Friendly Education Program, in line with the pillars of the School Education Law issued in 2023, and consistent with the national priorities of Oman Vision 2040, the Eleventh Five-Year Plan (2026–2030), and in accordance with the latest developments in the education system in the Sultanate of Oman.

Hamad bin Ali Al-Sarhani, Advisor to the Minister of Education for Educational Administration Affairs, affirmed that the Sultanate of Oman gives great attention to the child as the focus of development and the foundation for building the future, noting that the Ministry of Education is working to develop safe, stimulating and inclusive educational environments that guarantee the child’s right to quality education that keeps pace with global changes and consolidates the values ​​and skills necessary for the future.

On her part, Sumeira Chaudhry, UNICEF Representative to the Sultanate of Oman, affirmed that every child has the right to learn in a safe, inclusive and supportive environment, explaining that this assessment and the subsequent practical planning embody the Sultanate of Oman’s ongoing commitment to ensuring that the education system responds to the needs and rights of all children, and emphasizing UNICEF’s pride in continuing to support the Ministry of Education in this important national effort.

This launch represents a pivotal moment in the Sultanate of Oman’s efforts to establish child-friendly education standards, enhance coordination between different sectors, and ensure that national education policies are evidence-based, remain child-centered, and future-proof.

The organization of the forum comes within the framework of the Ministry’s efforts to enhance communication and integration with non-governmental higher education institutions, and to continue developing the work system related to internal scholarships and student services, in a way that contributes to raising the efficiency of institutional performance and improving the quality of services provided to students.

The forum includes a number of specialized workshops and discussion sessions presented by specialists from the ministry, which address the mechanisms for studying electronic applications submitted by scholarship students, procedures for updating electronic files, in addition to discussing the challenges related to admission and registration procedures and student services, and reviewing best practices that contribute to accelerating achievement and raising the efficiency of institutional work.

The forum provides a platform for exchanging experiences and expertise among participants and exploring ways to develop cooperation between the Ministry and non-governmental higher education institutions, in order to support the quality of educational and administrative services provided to students and enhance the efficiency of the higher education system in the Sultanate of Oman.

The forum aims to highlight the Ministry's efforts in developing work procedures and implementing initiatives that support the domestic scholarship program, as well as strengthening strategic partnerships with non-governmental higher education institutions and emphasizing their role in supporting students and improving higher education outcomes. The forum also seeks to raise awareness of the legislation and regulations governing the higher education sector, particularly the executive regulations of the Higher Education Law issued by Ministerial Decree No. (2026/1), thereby promoting standardized procedures, and achieving institutional compliance.

The training program includes specialized scientific content focused on developing higher-order thinking skills. Students are trained on a variety of unconventional and innovative problem types and questions in the four areas of mathematics: algebra, number theory, geometry, and combinatorics, as well as in the sciences of chemistry, physics, and biology. The program also includes training students to solve past Olympiad problems, complete accompanying assignments, and scientific activities, and participate in short quizzes that enhance their scientific and competitive readiness.

During the camp, students undergo intensive training for a week in each subject, with (10) hours per day distributed over morning and evening timings. The program concludes with a final qualifying test to select outstanding students in each Olympiad, in preparation for forming the national teams that will represent the Sultanate of Oman in regional and international forums.

This type of in-person training camp contributes to developing a number of skills in students, most notably: discipline, time management, self-reliance, enhanced analytical and logical thinking, innovative problem-solving, and the acquisition of advanced strategies for dealing with scientific and mathematical problems.

The implementation of this camp is part of the Ministry of Education's efforts to nurture gifted students, promote modern scientific culture, elevate their scientific and cognitive skills, and prepare them for honorable competition, thus supporting the Sultanate of Oman's presence in regional and international science Olympiads.

The establishment of the center comes in line with the goals of developing education by providing a stimulating educational environment for creativity, enabling students to experiment and innovate, and developing future skills in the fields of science and modern technologies.

The center includes quality facilities such as the Science Technology Hall, which deals with scientific experiments and practical applications, the Innovation Skills Hall, which is dedicated to developing creative thinking and producing innovative solutions, the Modeling Hall, which allows the design and construction of scientific and engineering models, and the Educational Cinema Hall, which presents interactive scientific content using modern presentation methods.

HE toured the exhibition accompanying the opening, which showcased a range of outstanding student projects and innovations from the governorate’s schools, reflecting the level of skills and creative abilities of the students in the fields of science and innovation.

In a related context, HE visited Al Buraimi University, where she met with the university administration and reviewed its academic programs and educational initiatives. The meeting included a discussion on ways to enhance integration and exchange experiences to support the development of the education system.

HE also visited Al Buraimi University College, met with the administration and academic staff, reviewed the development programs and plans, and discussed ways to improve the educational process and enhance the quality of outputs in line with the aspirations of higher education.

The visit aimed to assess the reality of the educational environment in the governorate’s schools, evaluate their readiness to support effective learning, monitor the progress of the educational process, review educational practices within classrooms, enhance the empowerment of educational bodies, support ongoing professional development efforts, strengthen partnership with the educational field, and explore challenges and ways to address them.

HE met with the administration of Yazid Bin Al-Muhallab Boys School (5-12) in the Wilayat of Mahdah, where the efforts made in developing school performance were reviewed, and ways to enhance the quality of education were discussed, in line with the Ministry’s directions towards improving educational practices.

During the visit, HE visited a number of classrooms to observe the progress of educational lessons, monitor student interaction with teaching methods, and assess the level of implementation of classroom strategies that support the quality of learning.

HE also visited Ard Al Jaw School (1-4) in Al Buraimi Governorate, where she met with the school administration, reviewed the progress of classes, and followed up on the use of technology and interactive whiteboards in the educational process, and the level of student interaction within the classrooms, reflecting the trends of digital transformation in education.

HE reviewed the learning difficulties classes, followed up on the educational programs offered to students, and the efforts made to support and enable them to overcome educational challenges, in order to promote the principle of equal educational opportunities and achieve inclusive and high-quality education.

The inauguration was patronized by HE Majid bin Said Al Bahri, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Education for Administrative and Financial Affairs, and in the presence of Abdullah Al Fouri, Direct-General of the Directorate-General of Education in the South Sharqiyah Governorate, and a number of officials from the Ministry and the Directorate.

The Sensory Integration Rooms project is one of the initiatives supporting special education programs. It has been implemented in 10 schools with intellectual inclusion programs across several districts of the governorate, contributing to the provision of specialized therapeutic learning environments for students with intellectual disabilities. The project's implementation included training special education supervisors on how to activate the rooms and use their equipment, as well as transferring the training to teachers within the schools to ensure sustainability and practical application.

Sensory integration classrooms are therapeutic learning environments designed to control different sensory stimuli in order to regulate brain responses and improve students’ interaction with the environment. They combine individual education, occupational therapy, and behavioral and emotional support, which contributes to improving academic achievement, enhancing attention and concentration, developing motor and communication skills, in addition to supporting psychological and emotional aspects.

The STEM Oman project aims to develop interactive, hands-on teaching methods for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), connecting learning to everyday life. The project targets students in grades 8 through 10 and has been implemented in 15 schools across four districts within the governorate.

The project focuses on developing scientific and analytical thinking skills, promoting innovation and problem-solving, as well as establishing experiential and interactive learning, through the provision of scientific lessons and activities using modern methods, the use of practical experiments and real-world applications, and the involvement of students in group projects within an educational environment that stimulates creativity and exploration.

The two projects are expected to contribute to achieving quality educational returns, as the Sensory Integration Halls project supports students with disabilities in improving their sensory response, academic achievement and enhancing their independence, while the STEM Oman project promotes students’ orientation towards scientific and technical disciplines, and contributes to bridging the gap between educational outputs and labor market requirements, and building a generation that possesses critical thinking skills and the ability to innovate.

The implementation of these two projects represents a model of integration between supporting special education and developing general education, through combining vocational training, field application and partnership with the private sector, which positively impacts the quality of education and empowers students in the South Sharqiyah Governorate.

The closing ceremony was patronized by Major General Hamed bin Ahmed bin Said Sakroun, Chairman of the Academy of Strategic and Defence Studies, in the presence of Their Excellencies, Ali Al Janabi, Chairman of Oman Shell Companies, representatives of military and security units, directors-general, and the educational community, at the Kempinski Hotel Muscat Al Mouj.

The ceremony began with a rendition of the Royal Anthem, followed by a welcoming segment titled "Friends of the Road," presented by students from Rawad Al-Ula Basic Education School (Grades 1-4) in Muscat Governorate. Khaled Al-Bassami, Head of the Central Team for the Friends of the Road Program at the Ministry, then delivered a speech in which he stated: "The number of participating students reached approximately 3,225, which reinforces the program's impact and underscores its role in building a more aware and responsible generation. What distinguishes Friends of the Road is that it is not limited to theoretical awareness but extends to building conscious behavior both inside and outside the school, reaching the family and the community. It makes the student an ambassador for safety, and the school a launching point towards a more aware and committed society. It is a fitting coincidence that this closing ceremony coincides with the Gulf Traffic Week in Muscat, where our schools from various governorates of the Sultanate of Oman are present, not only as participants, but as agents of change, through the high-quality outputs they present that reflect student awareness and embody the fruits of this program in their real practices and behaviors."

This was followed by a visual presentation titled "The Harvest," which included an overview of the program and its achievements in schools. Afterwards, Al-Ahnaf Al-Zubaidi, Director of Social Investment and Community Relations at Oman Shell, delivered the company's speech, stating: "This year, the 'Friends of the Road' program has witnessed a rich new journey touching students' awareness and contributing to the development of teachers who have earned the title of 'Ambassadors of Safety' in the community. This effort has translated into tangible improvements in knowledge and skills. What makes us even prouder is the mature awareness, progressive thinking, and innovative spirit demonstrated by our participating students. They not only understood traffic safety but also redefined it in the language of the future."

Following this, a presentation on "Al-Midan" and "Al-Azi" was given, containing advice and guidance for drivers and pedestrians. This presentation was delivered by students from Al-Mubarrad Boys' School (grades 5-9) in North Al Batinah Governorate. Afterwards, Major Issa Al-Nabhani, Assistant Director of the Traffic Safety Institute at the Royal Oman Police, delivered the police speech, stating: "The 'Friends of the Road' program is one of the awareness programs that reflects our commitment to promoting a culture of traffic safety, spreading awareness, and building a more responsible and conscious society regarding road rules and ethics among school students in all governorates of the Sultanate of Oman since its inception. This is evident from the visits we made to some schools, where the program had a positive impact. The remarkable interaction and commitment shown by all teachers and participating students testifies to the success of this program and the achievement of its objectives. As we conclude this phase, we emphasize that what has been achieved is only the beginning of a continuous journey of giving, through which we aspire to be a model to be emulated in awareness, discipline, and commitment to promoting traffic culture. We also affirm that the Directorate-General of Traffic, represented by the Traffic Safety Institutes in all governorates, is fully prepared to provide support, awareness lectures and training programs in cooperation with the Directorates-General of Education."

The program aims to raise the level of traffic culture among students to reduce traffic accidents, minimize the risks resulting from them, and develop positive and correct traffic behaviors among students that help build a traffic-conscious society through the participatory role between the school and the community.

The exhibition includes (22) student companies, at a rate of two companies from each educational directorate, representing diverse fields including environmental technologies, renewable energy, smart agriculture, circular economy, and medical and biological technologies, where students display models of their products and projects that reflect their ability to employ scientific knowledge in finding innovative solutions to contemporary developmental and environmental issues.

Sheikh Yaqoub Al-Shahimi, Director-General of the Career Guidance and Student Counseling Center, said that the student companies exhibition comes as an extension of the Ministry of Education’s efforts to consolidate career guidance concepts and promote a culture of entrepreneurship among students, stressing that this trend has become a fundamental pillar in the educational system, and has given students real tools that enable them to engage in the labor market with confidence and efficiency.

He explained that choosing renewable energy as the theme for this edition reflects an awareness of the importance of this vital sector as one of the drivers of the economy in the next stage, and a bet on sustainability and innovation, noting that the state of Sur, with its ancient maritime history and its ability to utilize natural resources, forms an inspiring environment to embrace ideas that link the authenticity of the place with the modernity of solutions.

Qais Al-Toubi, Vice Chairman of the Authority for Finance and Investment at the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (Riyada), affirmed that the exhibition constitutes a vital platform to enable young people to present their ideas and transform them into real opportunities, which contributes to building an entrepreneurial generation capable of innovation and competition. He pointed out that the first edition of the student companies exhibition, which was held in the Wilayat of Manah, represented an important milestone in the path of supporting student entrepreneurial initiatives, and provided students with a practical experience in establishing and managing projects, and achieved positive interaction from various supporting entities.

He pointed out that the exhibition includes a package of accompanying events, including specialized workshops, guidance sessions, and evaluation of participating student companies by specialized committees, in addition to providing an opportunity for visitors to view the students’ creativity and interact with their entrepreneurial experiences, which contributes to promoting these projects on a wider scale.

The exhibition is organized as part of the Ministry of Education’s efforts to promote a culture of entrepreneurship and innovation among school students, develop their practical skills, and provide them with the opportunity to showcase their entrepreneurial projects and innovative ideas that contribute to serving the community and supporting sustainable development paths, in line with the objectives of Oman Vision 2040.

The meeting reviewed a number of specialized working papers, beginning with a paper entitled “Integration of Planning and Performance Management for the Ministry of Education after the merger,” presented by Dr. Khalifa Al-Fathi, Head of the Strategic Planning Department. It addressed the objectives of Oman Vision 2040, the Eleventh Five-Year Plan, and the unified annual plan for the Ministry of Education 2026, in addition to clarifying the institutional work methodology after the merger.

The meeting discussed the executive plan to enhance student attendance and discipline in schools, presented by Dr. Mutasim Al-Balushi, Assistant Director-General of the Directorate-General for School Performance Development, including procedures and general guidelines for maintaining learning time, the main objective of the plan, and its most prominent procedural goals.

In his working paper, Dr. Yahya Al-Mundhiri, the Minister’s advisor, addressed the Higher Education Law and its executive regulations, reviewing the law’s objectives, scope of application, and its most prominent organizational aspects.

The papers concluded with a presentation by Mohammed Al-Wahibi, Director of Vocational and Technical Curricula Department, on the indicator of the development and expansion of technical and vocational education. He addressed the stages of this path, its characteristics, and the specializations offered in it, reflecting the trend towards diversifying educational paths and aligning them with the needs of development and the labor market.

The meeting comes as part of the Ministry of Education’s efforts to improve work in the educational field, enhance integration between planning and implementation, and support development initiatives related to the priorities of the next stage.

The closing ceremony was patronized by the Honorable Dr. Abdullah bin Mohammed Al-Sarmi, Member of the State Council, in the presence of Their Excellencies, experts, advisors, directors general and their assistants, and supporting institutions and companies, at the Directorate-General of Education’s Theater in Muscat Governorate at Doha Al-Adab School.

The ceremony began with a rendition of the Royal Anthem, followed by musical pieces performed by the Scout Band, and then a visual presentation of the most prominent performances presented at the festival. After that, the statement of the judging committee for the theatrical performances competition was delivered by Dr. Mohammed Al-Habsi, head of the committee, followed by the statement of the Little Storyteller Competition Committee (Tales from Our Popular Heritage) presented by Adnan Al-Lawati, followed by the statement of the Solo Performance Competition Committee presented by Zakaria Al-Alawi, head of the committee. After that, the patronage of the event honored the judging committees, and then the results were announced.

The following students won certificates of excellence in acting: Balarab Al-Maawali for his role in the play "The City of the Painter" from Muscat Governorate, Hamoud Al-Salmi for his role in the play "A Patch of Light" from North Al Sharqiyah Governorate, Intisar Al-Saloumi for her role in the play "The Three Feathers" from Dhofar Governorate, and Laith Al-Ghafri for his role in the play "The City of the Painter" from Muscat Governorate. The play "Frames" from Al Dakhiliyah Governorate won the award for Best Theatrical Makeup, while Al Wusta Governorate won the award for Best Theatrical Costumes and Accessories for the play "Turning Point." The play "Individualization" from North Al Batinah Governorate won the award for Best Music and Sound Effects, and Al Dhahirah Governorate won the award for Best Theatrical Lighting for its lighting design for the play "Road." The award for Best Theatrical Set Design went to North Al Batinah Governorate.

The award for Best Supporting Actor went to student Zaid Al Kharusi from Al Dakhiliyah Governorate for his outstanding performance in the play "Frames," and student Hala Al Daroushi won the award for Best Supporting Actress for her outstanding performance in the play "The City of the Painter." Student Abdulaziz Al Araimi won the award for Best Actor for his outstanding performance in the play "Individualization" from North Al Batinah Governorate, and student Oman Al Muqrashi won the award for Best Actress for her remarkable performance in the play "Road" from Al Dhahirah Governorate. The award for Best Theatrical Direction went to director Rashid Al Buraiki from North Al Batinah Governorate for his direction of the play "Individualization," and the Jury Prize for Ensemble Performance was won by Musandam Governorate for the play "A New Chapter."

In the theatrical performances competition, the third-place award for Best Play went to Al Dakhiliyah Governorate for their play "Frames," the second-place award for Best Play went to Al Dhahirah Governorate for their play "Road," and the first-place award for Best Play went to North Al Batinah Governorate for their play "Individualization." In the Little Storyteller competition, Azhar Al Maashani from Dhofar Governorate won first place, Rose Al Hashimi from South Al Sharqiyah Governorate won second place, Maan Al Jalandani from Al Dakhiliyah Governorate won third place, and Nouf Al Siyabi from South Al Batinah Governorate received an encouragement award. In the solo instrumental performance competition, Luay Al Hinai from Muscat Governorate won first place, Raneem Al Maamari from North Al Batinah Governorate won second place, Yousef Al Araimi from Al Buraimi Governorate won third place, and Nada Nour El Din from Al Dakhiliyah Governorate won fourth place.

In the student category, student Reema Ahmed Masi from Jawharat Shinas School in North Al Batinah won first place, student Mohammed Al Balushi from Saad Bin Muadh Basic Education School in North Al Batinah Governorate won second place, and student Mohammed Al Maamari from Imam Al Shafi’i School in North Al Batinah won third place.