Oman’s Ministry of Labour is advancing initiatives to better align private training programs with the evolving needs of the national labour market. The move aims to enhance the readiness of Omani professionals by equipping them with technical, vocational, and technological skills critical to the country’s economic development.
Mahfoodha bint Mubarak al Araimi, Director-General of Private Training Institutions at the Ministry, highlighted that strengthening the private training sector forms a vital part of building a comprehensive national skills development ecosystem. She noted that the focus is shifting beyond merely increasing the number of training centers or programs to ensuring the delivery of high-quality training that meets labour market demands.
To support this goal, the Ministry is preparing a risk register related to an investment initiative targeting private training institutions. The register is designed to identify potential challenges and implement measures to mitigate them, thereby encouraging greater investment in the sector. Concurrently, a document is being developed to pinpoint training fields with promising investment opportunities, in collaboration with the Employment Governance Committees overseeing various economic sectors during their first and second phases.
Al Araimi emphasized the importance of vocational, technical, and professional training provided by private institutions, underscoring its role in supplying qualified personnel proficient in practical skills essential for workforce development. She added that expanding training services in these areas would open new avenues for investors, diversify available offerings, and support a transition toward more flexible and varied training models.
Currently, Oman hosts 62 licensed private training institutions across its governorates, offering 819 accredited training programs and employing 637 accredited administrative and instructional staff. The Ministry has issued 150 training visa approvals and conducted 122 visits to private training institutions for regulatory and oversight purposes. Additionally, the Directorate-General of Private Training Institutions performed 19 classification visits aimed at assessing and categorizing institutions to improve outcomes and strengthen supervision.
Al Araimi stressed that advancing the private training sector is closely linked with enhancing quality assurance, oversight, and regulatory compliance. These efforts are intended to uphold approved standards and elevate the quality of training services provided to trainees, ultimately contributing to a more skilled and adaptable national workforce.