Most Omani parents prefer private-school education for children

Muscat: More than 80 per cent of Omani parents are in favour of private school education for their children, according to a study conducted by the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI). Between September 30 and October 12 last year, 3,039 parents with children enrolled in private schools, in all governorates, were surveyed, our of which 83 per cent said they are satisfied with private school education versus public schools.
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The study showed that 88 per cent are satisfied with the quality of education; 85 per cent are also satisfied with the facilities and school preparations; 83 per cent are satisfied with the grading system, as well as involvement of parents, while 75 per cent are satisfied with the value of expenses.
Reasons for favour
The quality of education, or curriculum, is the top reason for favouring private school education over public schools, where 58 per cent of the parents agreed. Parents who prefer the quality of English language taught followed with 22 per cent, while the close proximity of the school to their home was the third preferred reason for 18 per cent of the parents.
According to the study, 85 per cent of the parents are satisfied with the value of school trips and activities, making it the number one reason for expenses, while uniform costs ranked second with 84 per cent satisfaction.
Transportation and school fees recorded the lowest of satisfaction rating as 61 per cent and 59 per cent respectively showed dissatisfaction with the value for money.
The average annual school fee for Kindergarten (KG) until the tenth grade is OMR1,200, while grades 11 and 12 cost OMR2,000 per year, according to NCSI.
International schools charge, on average, OMR2,856 for KG to tenth grade per year and that fee increases for the final two years of school, where parents must pay an average of OMR4,090 per year.
Bilingual schools average OMR2,000 per year for KG to tenth grade and that value is increased to OMR2,865 for 11th and 12th grade students.
Monolingual schools average about OMR620 for KG to tenth grade while 11th and 12th grades cost an average of OMR1,930.
Improvements
However, parents feel there are still some improvements needed to develop education in the private sector. Twenty-nine per cent feel that more efficient teachers must be employed or the current ones would improve their efficiency as the primary thing to focus on, as well as improving the school curriculum, to which 25 per cent of parents agreed. Adding the need to reduce school fees came as the top third reason for improving private sector education, where 18 per cent of parents felt it necessary.
Currently, there are 468 established private schools in the Sultanate. During the 2014-2015 academic year, there were 89,275 students enrolled in private schools in all grades versus 516,891 students in public schools.