Education? What education?

Is there a grammatical error in the education system in Oman? Are the educational institutes established in Oman really all about education? Or is just another scheme to get our hard-earned money?

In the last 10-12 years in Oman, the education system has established more 'leading' colleges and private universities than there were ever was during the whole 25 years of the Sultanate's renaissance. True, that that is a good sign that we are, as a business community, are realizing the importance of educating our youth to the fullest level of knowledge available worldwide. But are we really getting what we are paying for or is it a hit-and-run wild gimmick?

The Ministry of Higher Education in Oman constantly advertises annually in the local newspapers that although with the increasing number of educational institutes in Oman, it does not guranatee that all of their certificates are approved. In short, it's basically saying 'you're on your own'.

As the leader of the pack and a concrete base to get back to on whens, hows and whys of the higher educational era of Oman it has a moral responsibility to at least notify the students that are considering such educational establishments of which ones are and are not approved by their standard. Or it would at least hunt down those of which are not approved by their authority and shut them down.

Instead, it expects the public to do the work for themselves. Since it is as they say 'if it's your mouth to feed, then it is your need'.

And by what standard do they even go by? Do we even know? I was in a college once that almost ended up being eaten by angry parents because of two main reasons; 1) they changed their affiliate educational institute without informing the students or informing the proper authorities, and 2) the first establishment that it was affialited with was not approved by the Ministry of Higher Education and it had posted a notice in the local newspapers regarding this, but after many students had graduated from the educational programme.

Students seeking further higher education in Oman are in the increase every single year, and the economy can hardly take in more than 5% of the total graduates (and that's including the government and private sector). And as it is, not all these students have the ability to go for this option since their families barely live on the money their parents make from badly underpaid jobs or wellfare allowances from the Ministry of Social Affairs.

This is merely a small chunk of the problem here in Oman that needs some immediate, quick and responsive action.

Unfortunately; one hand does not clap..