Oman to amend rules governing expat schools
Muscat |By Sunil K. Vaidya, Bureau Chief | 20-08-2003
Print friendly format | Email to Friend

Oman's Education Ministry is contemplating amendments to the rules pertaining to expatriate schools in the country, according to a diplomat.

"The ministry intends to bring about new regulations pertaining to expatriate schools as the present rules are 10 years old," India's new ambassador to Oman Talmiz Ahmad told Gulf News.

"Yes, we are contemplating modifications to the rules governing community schools in Oman," confirmed Fatmah Al Hinai, Head of Department of Community Schools at the ministry. She further added that by next month the amendments would be announced.

The decision to amend the rules comes close on the heels of controversies surrounding the Indian schools in Muscat.

In Oman, Board of Directors governs the expatriate schools. Ambassadors of their respective countries nominate the BoD.

In a raging controversy for over a year, three persons were removed from the Chairmanship of Indian Schools‚ BoD by the previous Indian ambassador K. M. Meena. Meena constituted a new BoD with a new chairman on the day he was leaving the country.

According to Ahmad, the Ministry has rejected the latest list of BoD submitted by the embassy. Al Hinai said that she would not like to comment on the matter.

Ahmad said that he was advised to form an interim BoD, which would be asked to maintain the status quo.

All 15 Indian schools in Oman come under the purview of BoD and they have common policies. However, under a Memorandum of Understanding signed by the Indian Embassy three schools are permitted to manage the financial affairs on their own. A businessman runs the Indian School while a trust manages schools in Wadi Kabir and Sohar.

The outgoing Indian ambassador had, however, revoked the MoU just before he left the country. With the status quo to be maintained, it appears that the cancellation of the MoU would be null and void. At least, until the ministry amends the present rules.

Ahmad admitted that the Indian schools were the centre of community related politics. "It will be my business to ensure that schools are able to function in an atmosphere where the emphasis is on the child and his education not on fulfilment of political aspirations of people outside the institution," he assured.

He warned people with vested interests to keep off schools. "If people have some unfulfilled aspirations then they should look out for other platforms," he reiterated.

It is believed that the school politics was one of the major reasons behind Meena being recalled before his tenure in Oman had ended. And, according to reports reaching here, he has now resigned from the Indian Foreign Service.