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Preparations are being made for the Sixth International Conference on Adult Education (CONFINTEA VI), ‘Living and learning for a viable future - the power of adult learning’, to be held in Brazil in 2009. As part of these preparations, member states are requested to prepare a national report on the developments in adult learning and education since 1997 (CONFINTEA V), on the current state of the art and future challenges of adult learning and education. These reports will constitute a major input for the Brazil conference, help to prepare a regional synthesis for the regional preparatory conferences and supply critical data for a Global Report on Adult Learning and Education (GRALE).

This is the national report on adult learning and education (ALE) in the Sultanate of Oman. It defines the illiterate as a person who is more than 25 years old, not enrolled in any educational institution and has not reached a reasonable standard of writing, reading and numeracy. Adult education in Oman is implemented by the Ministry of Education. It is organised into two divisions: (1) Formal study where the learner joins one of the scattered centers throughout the country and have regular periods of study and exams (centers are stationed in school buildings after students end their school day); (2) Non-formal study where the learner registers himself in one of the centers and comes only to sit for the final exams. The objectives of adult education are: to enable adults to receive more education; to implement lifelong learning; to provide a chance for school drop-outs to continue their education; and to enable all people participate in the social development of the country. The report acknowledges that continuous global changes have direct effects on educational systems, but the Ministry is aware of the challenges this presents. It focuses on updating the system in order to continue to carry out its objectives. Curricula, methods of teaching, and training of staff are always under review and modern technology is also introduced to the educational system. Show less