Educational Reform In The Sultanate Of Oman Towards Achieving Qualitative Internal Efficiency Of Basic Education Cycle 2 System

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Date
2010-04
Authors
Al-Hajri, Salim Mohammed Amur
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Publisher
Universiti Sains Malaysia
Abstract
The main issue of this study was on the educational reform and how it was leading towards efficiency particularly internal efficiency of the Omani education system. Much has been done by so many people and a lot of money has been spent to reform the system over last forty years. These inputs of educational reform (finance, activities and time) have accumulated over time to serve the present system. However, the question was whether accumulated inputs contributed towards the effectiveness and efficiency of the system. The main objectives of this study were to examine the educational reform in Oman with a view towards identifying internal efficiency of the Basic Education Cycle 2 in the Sultanate of Oman. Specifically it investigated the educational reform in the Omani Educational System and examined whether this reform could lead to internal efficiency of the system by systematically examining the internal processing of the inputs. The study employed a combination of quantitative and qualitative method research techniques to gather and analyzed data. Questionnaire analysis, focus group and personal interviews were used to collect numerical and qualitative data. The conceptual framework was based on Lunenburg and Ornstein’s (2000) proposal, which in turn came from the Open Systems Theory. This framework led to the research design of the study. This was done to ensure the reliability and validity of the data gathered. The study and data collection were focused around the Educational Reform in Oman and how the movement affected inputs and outputs of the education system and its Internal Processing System. The study found out that on the surface it looked like a tremendous amount of quality inputs were put in place in the new system. However the input of physical facilities such as locally produced textbooks do not necessarily make them better materials, computer facilities are good but they need constant upgrading as they become obsolete rather quickly and internet facilities and connections must also be included. A new curriculum that is in line with global trends was good but it was not based on needs and ability of students and teachers. Nonetheless in situation such as this we would have expected practicing teachers to be retrained to implement the new curriculum. It was important for the policy makers to realize that teachers and students must be comfortable with the new assessment system to avoid anxiety and stress among them.
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Keywords
Educational reform in the sultanate of oman , towards Achieving qualitative internal efficiency
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