Education: a priority area for development
The Omani Government is keen to see its citizens play a leading role in all sectors of employment. To this end, education and training are priority areas and have been a cornerstone of each of the five-year development plans put in place by the State. This is particularly evident in the programmes to combat adult illiteracy that have been initiated for nomadic populations living in remote areas.
Some 98 per cent of the population over 15 years of age are literate, with a differential of 5 in favour of men. In general, education, which is free for Omanis until the end of secondary education, mobilizes nearly 7% of GDP - the world's top 20 - and many scholarships are awarded for students at the Master's and PhD levels. While there were only three schools in the whole Sultanate in 1970, today there are 1,800 public and private schools - 44 of which have international status - catering for more than 800,000 pupils and students. Sultan Qaboos University is one of the most important academic institutions in the Arab world. And it has never offered such a wide range of secondary school diplomas as it does today! Scientific research is also of crucial importance in the development plans of Sultan Qaboos University, whose aim is to improve the quality of education offered while enhancing its contribution to science and human knowledge.Place of the woman
The high status of Omani women is reflected in the priority accorded to them in the country's development plans. According to the latest census, 49 per cent of the population of the Sultanate were women, who enjoyed the same educational opportunities as boys. Legally, they also have the same employment rights and society recognizes their active role. The female population was invited to contribute to the country's development at the opening of the second term of office of the Consultative Council (a'Shura Majlis): "We call on Omani women everywhere, in villages and towns, in urban areas and Bedouin communities, in the hills and mountains, to roll up their sleeves and contribute to the process of economic and social development". As early as 1997, women acquired the right to vote and were able to participate in political life, including appointment to the Assembly. This concern for equality encourages modernity and openness in the country: the growing number of women in important posts is significant. The Ministries of Social Affairs and Labour had supported the establishment of the Omani Women's Association, in cooperation with UNICEF. Nevertheless, Omani women are still subject to some form of discrimination, especially within traditional families in non-urban areas. Outside Muscat or the larger cities where lifestyles are more "modern", few women are allowed to go out alone before or after marriage, few go shopping or take their children to school (this is done by men), most are covered from head to toe and some even wear the burqa (face mask).
Wedding
Marriages between people of different religions were not accepted in the Sultanate, and an Indian who wished to marry a local woman, for example, would first have to convert to Islam. Nevertheless, both men and women were allowed to choose their partners. Before the hymen, and in order to determine the credibility of the young woman, the young man confers with a close relative. Then, to formalize the union, the fiancé asks the girl's family for permission. If the parents consent, a meeting is arranged during which the girl prepares a meal for the members of her future husband's family. If the girl is deemed appropriate, negotiations are held to decide on the amount of the dowry(mahr) that the young man will pay. This price is based on the girl's beauty, ancestry and virginity. Men who choose a wife whose family has a higher status than their own must pay a higher price. After agreeing on the amount of the dowry, the groom and the father of the bride sign a contract with an Omani judge. The bride is not present at this procedure. During the days devoted to the celebration, the groom's family gathers and celebrates for a period of up to 72 hours, the bride's family does the same on its own, but for a slightly shorter period, and the bride herself remains in a separate room with the children. On the last day of the wedding, the men of the groom's family go to the bride's family home. They wait while the bride dresses in her best clothes and jewellery. The bride is then led out of the room by the wives of the bridegroom's family. During the ceremony, the parties are separated again, and the groom is undressed and shaved, and then dressed in his best attire, including a green belt, which is supposed to bring good fortune. After the traditional ceremony, both spouses retire to the bridal chamber. This honeymoon can last up to a week.
Inequalities between Omanis and foreigners
Since 1988, Oman has been replacing expatriates with qualified Omani personnel. This programme has made it possible, since the beginning of the twenty-first century, to exceed the target of 72 per cent Omani nationals in government departments and 86 per cent in most ministries. But Omanization also involves at least six areas of the private sector. Since April 1998, a "green card" has been awarded to companies that meet their Omani targets and comply with the Ministry of Labour's eligibility criteria. The names of these companies are published in the local press and the companies receive preferential treatment in their dealings with the Ministry.
