The Oman government is taking steps to encourage expatriate students to pursue their higher education in Oman, according to Yahya bin Mahfoudh Al Mantheri, Minister of Higher Education.

He was talking on the sidelines of the opening of three exhibitions of higher and technical education, vocational training and jobs, organised by the Oman International Trade and Exhib-ition at the Oman International Exhibitions Centre in Seeb.

The minister said that the government was satisfied with the response it has received from the private sector in an effort to get their investment for the educational sector.

"We have already given four licences to start private universities. Only the Sohar University has started functioning. We hope the private universities in Salalah and Nizwa will come up soon," he pointed out.

He also hinted that a private sector investor was interested in setting up an university in Muscat. Oman has 18 private colleges besides a university. "I think the private sector is very serious in expanding the number of educational institutions. This is very good for the students as well as the parents," he said.

With the job opportunities in mind, Al Mantheri said: "We are working with the private sector in respect of giving the right kind of education that the youth would require."

About the government scholarships issued to Omani students, the minister said that the pattern of scholarship for students' study abroad varied. Around 1,500 scholarships are given to students for their study in private colleges in Oman, he added.

"Last year at least 10,000 Omanis went abroad for studies," he revealed. According to his estimate about 30,000 to 35,000 Omanis are currently studying abroad.

Though not the highest in the region, Al Mantheri asserted that the literacy rate in Oman was fast improving.

Earlier, Sheikh Abdul Aziz bin Mattar Al Azizi, civil service minister, inaugurated the exhibitions.

Al Azizi said the wide participation of Arab and friendly countries in these exhibitions reflected the success achieved by previous sessions of these events.

He praised the Higher Education Ministry's role in holding these fairs and in encouraging colleges and universities inside the Sultanate and abroad to display their educational opportunities and programmes through them.

"In the current social scenario of Oman, the three exhibitions can assume much importance with regard to education, training and job opportunities," he said.

Hosts Oman have 15 institutions represented in the three-in-one exhibition - the Ghedex, Trainex and Jobex. Australia and Malaysia (five each), Turkey (three), Canada (two ), Bahrain, the UAE and Germany (one each) are also participating in the fair.