Teachers, Teacher Education, and Professional Development
Teacher Education Specific to Reading
As of 2009, a bachelor’s degree is the minimum requirement for teaching. Previously, teachers of students through Grade 6 earned diplomas at teacher education colleges, but these institutions have been converted into applied sciences colleges. Teacher education is now a four year or five year program that is offered in Oman at one college and at Sultan Qaboos University, as well as four private universities. Courses in these programs aim to help future teachers understand, analyze, and evaluate the teaching process while encouraging a high level of professionalism. The specialized and professional components of teacher education programs are integrated, and student teachers are expected to demonstrate specialized knowledge and skills with consideration of students’ individual needs and abilities. Practicum, which involves “micro” or peer teaching, takes place within the college during the fifth to seventh semesters of the program; during the seventh and eighth semesters, student teachers participate in a teaching practicum outside the college for two days per week. The first cohort of teacher education students at these universities graduated in 2011. English language teachers who previously held diplomas from teacher education colleges have earned a bachelor’s degree through a program with Leeds University in the United Kingdom. Plans to implement similar programs for teachers of other subjects are in the works.
Requirements for Ongoing Professional Development in Reading for Teachers
Until recently, the Ministry of Education’s Directorate General of Human Resources Development had the sole responsibility for providing in-service training to teachers in Oman. It provided courses at the central, regional, and school levels with training organized using a cascade approach. This involved identifying trainers at the regional level, training them centrally, and having them implement centrally developed training programs for teachers and principals at schools throughout their region.
In an attempt to bring about fundamental change in classrooms, the Ministry established the Specialized Center for the Professional Training of Teachers in 2014. With 56 classrooms, a library, a science laboratory, meeting rooms, and a restaurant, the center is responsible for meeting the training requirements for all professionals who are involved directly in the classroom learning process and for providing training at different stages of their careers. Professional standards developed by the Ministry for teachers, principals, vice principals, and supervisors are crucial in helping to clarify roles and in evaluating staff performance.