The historical relations between the Sultanate of Oman and Egypt date back to 3,500 years. The State Information Service of Egypt has noted this fact with evidence.
“This has caused wide-scale economic and commercial relations between the two countries. These relations have developed after the rise of Modern Sultanate of Oman, including political, strategic, social and cultural aspects.”
But a unique relationship has been nurtured since the 1970s, and that is between teachers of Egypt and students of the Sultanate of Oman.
Education was a top priority, as late Sultan Qaboos, in the early 70s, set the vision for the renaissance march. He had said, “Let there be learning even under the shade of trees.”
Schools expanded throughout the country, and expatriate teachers from Egypt supported the expansion significantly. Generations of students remember their time in classrooms and teachers fondly.
Asked about the Sultanate of Oman and Egypt’s relations, and Dr Hamed al Sinawi, a psychiatrist, said, “The thing that comes to the mind immediately is the role of Egyptian teachers. I had lot of Egyptian teachers. A tribute to the Egyptian teachers is their ability to fit into the Omani culture. They coped with moving to remote villages, even those teachers who lived in big cities themselves.”
Rashid al Jabri was in the Hafs bin Rashid School, Seeb, in the late 70s.
“The teachers from Egypt played a significant role in the education sector. I remember all my Egyptian teachers, like Ahmed Maher, my math teacher. In the 70s, there were also many teachers from other Arab countries.
Those days parents also had great respect for the teachers. Parents supported the teachers if their wards had gone through punishment in class. The teachers were polite who were friendly yet strict,” said Al Jabri.
According to him, the teachers were fatherly towards the students.
“I remember they took teaching as a great responsibility and had great patience. I remember in my fourth grade, we had older students too who could at times become loud, but the teachers patiently guided them,” recollected Al Jabri.
In the 2000s, Zainab al Nasseri was in school in Rustaq. She is nostalgic when she talks about her teachers.
“I remember all my Egyptian teachers – most kind and passionate. I learned a lot from them. We had teachers in Rustaq schools, mostly for Math and Physics. They were so strict and so sincere. I loved Physics because of my Egyptian teacher, Mirvat. I got the highest grade in Physics in General Diploma, and I think it is because of her,” said Al Nasseri.
Ali al Ghafri studied in Rustaq and began his schooling in the 70s. “We had a lot of teachers from Egypt teaching Math and Science.”
Today he is an English teacher. “I have had a lot of colleagues from Egypt. My colleagues always told me how much they enjoyed teaching in the Sultanate of Oman when it comes to the number of students in a classroom and the methodology implemented in teaching.”
In 2019 an executive programme was signed between the two countries.
Meanwhile, in a recent development, the Supreme Council of Egyptian Universities approved diploma and bachelor’s degrees granted by all private and government educational institutions from the Sultanate of Oman.
On the occasion, Muna al Zedjali, Oman’s Cultural Attaché, said, “The decision was the result of several meetings with the Egyptian Ministry of Higher Education, the Scientific Research, Council of Egyptian Universities and the presidents of Egyptian Universities.”
Both parties had also discussed all challenges facing Omani students wishing to complete their studies in Egyptian educational institutions.
@lakshmioman
