Oman Launches Child-Friendly Education Evaluation Report

Muscat, Oman | 13 May 2026 – As part of the continuous journey in strengthening inclusive, quality education for every child in the Sultanate of Oman, the Ministry of Education, in partnership with UNICEF, today launched the Child-Friendly Education (CFE) Evaluation Report and convened a cross-sectoral workshop to develop a five-year action plan for implementation.

Completed in 2025 under the guidance of a Technical Steering Committee comprising representatives from the Ministries of Education, Social Development, and Health as well as Oman Vision 2040, the CFE evaluation assessed the relevance and effectiveness of child-friendly education approaches across Oman's school system.

Child-Friendly Schools is an initiative that was co-created by the Ministry of Education and UNICEF. The model aims to facilitate access of all children to education systems that places the child at the center and encourages inclusivity and participation. Since its launch as a pilot in nine schools across three governorates in 2012, the initiative has grown steadily, with a nationwide rollout announced in 2022.

The evaluation was conducted through a participatory and inclusive approach, incorporating decentralized consultations through field visits to selected governorates. Children, including children with disabilities, as well as parents, school principals and teachers were actively engaged to capture diverse perspectives and ensure the findings reflect the lived experiences of school communities across the country.

The launch event featured the presentation of key evaluation findings, and an opening statement from Shununa Al Habsi, Assistant Director General for Special education at the Ministry of Education, and representative to UNICEF’s executive board highlighting the importance of this initiative, alongside a statement by youth representatives from the Arab Child Parliament in Al Dakhiliyah Governorate, who shared their experiences and aspirations for the second edition of the Child-Friendly Education Manual. Following the official launch, participants engaged in a collaborative working session, forming four cross-sectoral working groups to co-develop the framework for a five-year action plan, including the integration of key performance indicators, clearly defined priorities, responsibilities and coordination mechanisms.

The workshop outcomes will inform the development of Version II of the CFE Manual, aligned with the School Education Law of 2023 and the broader goals of Oman Vision 2040 and the Eleventh Five-Year Plan (2026–2030). The CFE initiative also contributes directly to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, in particular SDG 4 on ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education and promoting lifelong learning opportunities for all.

Hamad bin Ali Al Sarhani, Advisor to the Minister of Education for Educational Administration Affairs, affirmed that the Child-Friendly Education evaluation reflects the Ministry of Education’s commitment to ensuring that every child in Oman has access to quality, inclusive education. He noted that the findings will help guide the next phase of the Child-Friendly Education framework and support the implementation of the School Education Law, keeping Oman’s education system aligned with the ambitions of Oman Vision 2040.

Her Excellency Sumaira Chowdhury, UNICEF Representative to the Sultanate of Oman, reiterated that every child deserves to learn in an environment that is safe, inclusive, and nurturing, noting that this evaluation and the action planning that follows reflect Oman’s sustained commitment to ensuring education systems are responsive to the needs and rights of all children. She further underscored UNICEF’s pride in supporting the Ministry of Education in this important national effort

This launch marks another milestone in Oman's efforts to institutionalize child-friendly education standards, strengthen cross-sectoral coordination and ensure that national education policies are evidence-based, child-centered and future-ready.