OMAN is a thriving Gulf state, with a sound educational infrastructure. More than two million expatriates are working here in different sectors in which education is very vital.

A number of Pakistani professors, lecturers and teachers are serving in the sultanate in different universities, colleges and schools. Oman’s ministry of higher education and ministry of manpower have introduced a new policy for accepting applications from those candidates who have completed their bachelor’s degree programmes in the three-semester system.

However, most Pakistanis who have been working here or intend to work here have completed their bachelor’s degrees in the two-semester system. It is so because till 2004 we had the two-semester system in most universities in Pakistan, especially in the University of Punjab, University of Peshawar and the University of Karachi.

Besides, these universities are still offering two years bachelor’s degree programmes at their various campuses and for private students. Our embassy in Muscat, along with our ministry of foreign affairs, should clarify to the ministry of higher education of Oman this two-semester bachelor degree programmes in our universities in which students have been completing their bachelor’s degree in two years until 2004.

This needs to be done so that Pakistani professionals can also get equal opportunities in the field of education in Oman, in particular, and in the Gulf region, in general.

Anwaar Abbasi

Salalah College of Technology

Sultanate of Oman

Published in Dawn, June 3rd, 2015

On a mobile phone? Get the Dawn Mobile App: Apple Store | Google Play