Should Oman follow Japan's education system?

Muscat: The Public Authority for Investment Promotion and Export Development (Ithraa) has recommended Oman follow Japan's trailblazing education philosophy to boost knowledge-based industries in the Sultanate.

According to its recently published 'Briefings From Oman: Education Talent and Work' report, Oman's economic future has much to gain from 'Tokkatsu', Japan's emphasis on 'whole child' education.

Focused on nurturing multiple aspects of a pupil's development, the practice aims at enhancing communication, values, problem-solving and practices that educate the total child in different cultural contexts.

The report states, “Ambitious countries as well as cities have learnt that economic dominance is built off the back of a high-quality education system – one that understands the importance and value of nursery education, internships, apprenticeships, degree programs through to professional training.

"Consider Japan, for example, it possesses few natural resources and emerged post-World War II with its industrial base all but destroyed. Even so, the Japanese committed to building a first-class education system rooted in child-initiated activities, self-motivation, collaborative learning, learning by doing and teacher training.

"The result was decades of impressive economic growth, during which Japan became the world’s second-largest economy - only recently surpassed by China, which has a population 10 times the size of Japan’s, and is building an impressive education system of its own."

Ithraa's report comes as the Sultanate continues to enhance and refine its education system, which has enjoyed over four decades of rapid growth. Since then, Oman’s general education sector has expanded to include 1,681 schools and a total of 666,297 students.