Muscat: The Education and Scientific Research Committee of Majlis Ash’shura on Tuesday met with the head of the Education Committee at Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OCCI) and a number of OCCI specialists within the framework of studying public-private-partnership in the educational sector.
The OCCI specialists presented a visual display which showed growth indications at private schools and an increasing demand for private education over the past decade.
The OCCI specialists noted that the private sector is capable of operating public schools.
The meeting reviewed a study conducted by OCCI specialists about operating contracts of public schools and explained the types of the public-private-partnership.
The members of the Education and Scientific Research Committee inquired about the efficiency of the private sector in upgrading the standard of public schools and the anticipated challenges that would face the contracting system.
Meanwhile, the Economic and Financial Committee of Majlis Ash’shura, discussed the proposed amendments of some provisions of the Tender Law promulgated by Royal Decree 36/2008.
The amendments of the said law stem from the importance of the administrative contracts in light of the increasing state’s liability in realizing economic development and establishing more commercial and industrial projects in order to push forward the development process and achieve prosperity.
The proposed amendments also stem from the committee’s observation of the increase in the change orders at public projects which often leads to a higher cost of the government project.
The committee members said the proposed amendments aim to keep pace with modern tendering practices and the new agreements and conventions in this field.
