Monday 21 / September / 2026
Muscat: The Ministry of Labour has announced an updated OMR 20 million development plan for the Sultanate of Oman’s vocational training system spanning 2026 to 2030. Aligned with the Eleventh Five-Year Plan and Oman Vision 2040, the strategy incorporates 20 targeted projects aimed at modernising vocational colleges, reforming governance, and expanding specialisation options. Dr. Maimouna bint Abdullah Al-Rawahi, Assistant Director General of Vocational Colleges, affirmed that the initiative moves beyond traditional instruction to build an integrated framework capable of adapting to shifting economic and technological landscapes.
Central to the 2026–2030 roadmap is establishing deeper integration with private sector employers to identify emerging skill gaps and improve practical, workplace-based training. Development priorities focus on updating professional diploma curricula, upgrading campus infrastructure, equipping laboratories, and enhancing academic and administrative personnel. In the first half of 2026 alone, vocational colleges implemented 71 training courses benefiting 1,062 individuals, adopted six new institutional policies, and secured five strategic cooperation agreements to improve training outcomes.
The Ministry continues to offer professional diploma programmes for General Education Diploma graduates alongside professional competency pathways for job seekers holding tenth and eleventh-grade certificates. By combining theoretical instruction with practical training pathways, the Ministry aims to create a flexible, market-responsive educational environment. These measures are designed to increase the employability of Omani talent, reduce reliance on expatriate labor in technical fields, and support long-term national economic diversification.
