Over the past decades, education has considerably developed in the Sultanate of Oman.In 1969, there were only three elementary schools. 900 students attended school, all of them were boys. In 1970, under the impulse of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos, a vast program of educational reform was adopted in order to provide education to all Omani citizens .

Through the implementation of regular five-year governmental plans, education in Oman witnessed a quantitative expansion and a qualitative development. The elementary education curriculum has been reformed and replaced by basic education system which provides standard education for both male and female students similarly to students in developed countries. In 2003/2004 school year, 576,472 students were recorded in government schools (297,292 boys and 279,180 girls), with a further 23,553 students in private schools. There are 1,022 public schools and 129 private schools in Oman.

Higher Education is going through a similar evolution and the number of universities, colleges and institutes have increased in the Sultanate. Higher education institutions in Oman include the Institute for Banking and Financial Studies, the Higher Technical College, the Law and Charia College, Educational colleges, and Health institutes amongst others.

In 1986, Sultan Qaboos University was inaugurated and, since its inception 17 years ago, has become known as a centre of academic excellence.Since 1996, the private sector contributes to the Higher Education programme with 14 private colleges and 4 private universities established according to Royal Decree no. 41/96.

Education For All :

On a multilateral level, the Sultanate of Oman contributes to the Education for All programme and cooperates with other member-states in order to universalize primary education and massively reduce illiteracy

Education for all was first adopted in 1990, when delegates from 155 countries agreed at the World Conference on Education for All in Jomtien, Thailand to universalize primary education and massively reduce illiteracy before the end of the decade.In 2000, the World Education Forum held in Dakar, Senegal, adopted the Dakar Framework for Action, and the 1,100 participants of the Forum reaffirmed their commitment to achieving Education for All by the year 2015.

The Sultanate of Oman has actively participated to regional and international conferences on the implement of EFA goals at ministerial level. In 2001, a workshop on the preparation process of National EFA Plans in Gulf Countries was held in Riyadh, with the participation of Oman along with Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates and Bahrain Country.