Majlis panel seeks justification for hiring expat teachers over Omanis

Muscat: The Education and Research Committee of Majlis Al Shura held a discussion on Tuesday with a number of concerned personnel at the Ministry of Education seeking justifications for the Ministry’s contracting of expatriate teachers over Omanis.

The discussion was held during the second regular meeting of the third annual convening (2021-2022) for the ninth term (2019-2023) of Majlis Al Shura.

The meeting was chaired by Jamal Ahmed Al Abri, Chairman of the Education and Research Committee in the presence of the members.

The meeting discussed the justifications for contracting expatriate teachers in light of availability of local jobseekers. The meeting also discussed the procedures of contracting expatriate teachers and the criteria of selection.

The personnel concerned at the Ministry reaffirmed that the specialisations required from the Secondment Committee had no jobseekers in the waiting list and that the Ministry has spared no efforts in securing qualified Omani national in a number of specialisations.

Only then, the Ministry opted to contract with expatriate teachers, they said, adding that the Ministry has published several job notices but no applications have been received.

The personnel concerned at the Ministry also reaffirmed that retired Omanis have been provided with the opportunity of contracting along with providing Omanis who do not meet the required terms with the opportunity of contracting with.

The concerned personnel of the Ministry also reaffirmed that the procedures taken by the Contracting Committee were made in accordance with certain criteria including verification of qualifications and stipulating experience of not less than three years besides passing the interviews, written tests and medical examinations.

On the other hand, Members of Education and Research Committee of Majlis Al Shura stressed the significance of coordination between the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation in order to meet the needs and requirements of the Ministry of Education. They also stressed the importance of educational programmes and the role such programmes play in providing the Ministry’s required specialisations.