Oman Commemorates World Education Day

Muscat, The Gulf Observer: Oman, represented by the Ministry of Education, joins nations across the globe in celebrating World Education Day on January 24. This annual observance recognizes the crucial role of education in achieving sustainable development goals, fostering peace, and respecting human rights. It serves as a testament to education’s significant contribution to eradicating poverty and hunger while enhancing individual capacities for tolerance, conflict avoidance, and solution management.

Under the visionary leadership of His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik, Oman has prioritized the education sector, viewing it as a top national priority. His Majesty underscored this commitment, stating, “Education, in all its forms and levels, is a top national priority. It will receive our full attention and a supportive environment that encourages research and innovation. We are committed to empowering education as it forms the foundation for our children to contribute effectively to the upcoming developmental phase.”

This year, World Education Day is themed ‘Learning for Lasting Peace,’ celebrating education’s role in peace and development. The theme aligns with UNESCO’s core mission, emphasizing education for understanding, cooperation, and peace at the international level, as outlined in the 1974 United Nations document.

The observance highlights education’s critical role in addressing global challenges and achieving sustainable development goals, emphasizing the need for governments and international organizations to prioritize education in their agenda for building peaceful, advanced, and sustainable societies. International conventions stress the importance of quality, equitable, and comprehensive education for all, even in challenging circumstances.

The theme emphasizes several key objectives: maintaining education as a political priority, fulfilling commitments of the Education Transformation Summit and the Sustainable Development Goals 2030, and creating momentum for the significance of education in promoting and sustaining peace. It aims to reinforce global financing for education, particularly for peace education, through innovative, multilateral mechanisms and partnerships.

Aligned with the Oman Vision 2040, the sultanate remains dedicated to instilling values of tolerance and peace among students. The Ministry of Education continues to integrate these concepts into educational policies and documents, including the Education Philosophy Document, the General Concepts and Curricula Document, and others focusing on humanitarian issues and global citizenship.