Oman Begins Survey to Assess Lifelong Learning Opportunities

Muscat, Nizwa and Sur Included in Oman Lifelong Learning Survey

Muscat (ONA): The proceedings of the survey on promoting lifelong learning in the Sultanate of Oman began today, implemented by the National Center for Statistics and Information (NCSI) in cooperation with Sultan Qaboos University and Oman National Commission for Education, Culture and Science. The survey is part of the research project “Promoting Lifelong Learning through Learning Cities in the Sultanate of Oman.”

The survey aims to measure the level of lifelong learning among members of Omani society in the targeted wilayats of Muscat, Nizwa, and Sur, identify available learning and training opportunities and their accessibility, measure their participation levels, monitor associated competencies, and study the relationship between the availability of these opportunities, their utilization, and their reflection on competencies and individuals.

The survey is conducted through telephone interviews with a random sample of 1,200 Omani citizens aged 18 years and above across the targeted wilayats.

Hood Ibrahim Al Balushi, Acting Director of the Public Opinion Poll Department at the National Center for Statistics and Information, stated that the survey represents an important step toward providing data that contributes to forming a more comprehensive picture of the reality of continuous learning in Omani society, in terms of opportunities available to individuals, their participation levels, and the skills they possess.

He added that the survey results will contribute to identifying strengths and future needs, supporting planning and the development of relevant initiatives and programs, and providing indicators that can be utilized to enhance community members’ access to learning opportunities and support national efforts aimed at keeping pace with cognitive and digital changes.

The project is expected to contribute to building a national database that can be relied upon for future measurements, producing usable indicators, and yielding practical recommendations that contribute to developing learning opportunities in the Sultanate of Oman.

For his part, Dr. Mahmoud Abdullah Al Abri, Secretary-General of the Omani National Commission for Education, Culture and Science, pointed out that this survey comes within national efforts aimed at promoting lifelong learning as a primary driver for elevating learning quality and improving life and societal well-being.

He affirmed that the survey will provide reliable data and indicators that contribute to supporting planning, policy-making, and the relevant development of initiatives, and its results will also enhance the efforts of the cities of Muscat, Sur, and Nizwa within the UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities through a deeper understanding of the learning reality and the identification of priorities and future needs to support sustainable development in the Sultanate of Oman.

Dr. Aisha Salem Al Harthy, Principal Investigator of the project, stated that Oman Vision 2040 emphasizes the importance of developing national capabilities through a lifelong learning system that cultivates future skills. Moreover, learning is no longer tied to an age stage or a classroom seat, but extends throughout life and across the various career and life stages individuals experience, as well as multiple roles as parents and active members in their society. This study highlights the accessibility of learning opportunities available in Omani society and examines the reality of the availability of lifelong learning competencies among its individuals.