Oman to increase capacity of national training centres

Muscat: Oman's Ministry of Manpower plans to boost the intake capacity of its network of vocational and fishermen training centres to 10,000 students by the end of the current 8th Five Year Plan (2011-2015).

According to a top ministry official, the chain of government-run training centres can presently cater to a total of 5,200 new admissions at a time. The Ministry operates five vocational training centres at Seeb, Saham, Ibri, Sur and Shinas, as well as the two training institutes for fishermen in Al Khaboura and Salalah. With the scheduled opening of a new vocational training centre at Al Buraimi this year, the total intake capacity of the network will be augmented to 6,000 students.

Following an outbreak of often violent protests earlier this year, the government has moved to create jobs for Omanis, as well as ramp up the capacity and standards of its training facilities to align them more in line with the requirements of the labour market.

In a statement to the official Oman News Agency (ONA), Dr Muna Bint Salim Al Jardaniyah, under-secretary at the Ministry of Manpower for Technical Education and Vocational Training, said around 5,200 new applicants are preparing to join training centres across the sultanate. Several short courses are also being introduced for the benefit of Omanis looking to update their technical skills.

Dr Muna also urged Omani women to make the most of the opportunity offered by the ministry to acquire technical skills in a vocation of their choosing. Applicants can choose from more than 45 different subjects and disciplines offered by ministry-run training centres.