Education ministry, Shell Oman, Unicef sign framework deal
MUSCAT -- The Ministry of Education yesterday hosted a signing ceremony for a framework of understanding between the Ministry, Shell Representative Office Oman, and the Unicef office in Muscat. Shell, in partnership with the Ministry and Unicef, are supporting a project for developing life skills and promoting healthy lifestyles among adolescents in Oman. The contribution will be specifically used for producing a set of youth-friendly 'Life Skills' manuals to be used by students in all regions of the Sultanate, and supplement contributions made earlier by the Royal Netherlands Embassy in Oman as well as the Intercontinental Hotels Group.
The document was signed by Dr Muna bint Salim al Jardaniya, Under-Secretary for Education and Curricula of the Ministry of Education, Dr Andrew Wood, Shell Country Chairman Oman, and June Kunugi, Unicef Representative in Oman. Dr Muna al Jardaniya thanked all parties for their partnership and support to national efforts providing education and opportunities to children in the Sultanate of Oman to fulfil their potential. The drafting of the manuals was led by a team from Sultan Qaboos University with further inputs, reviews and endorsement by a technical committee comprising representatives of the Ministries of Education, Health, Social Development, Information, Awqaf and Religious Affairs, the National Organisation for Scouts and Guides, and previously the General Organisation of Youth, Sports and Cultural Affairs.
The initiative will be piloted first among adolescents aged 13-15 years old and then evaluated before moving on to the next phases of scaling up to achieve national coverage as well as inclusion of all adolescent age groups. In addition to targeting students, the initiative and associated communication campaign will involve teachers, parents, community members, policy-makers as well as project partners.
Oman and Unicef have a joint Programme of Co-operation 2004-2006 with priorities including the development and protection of children, and support to adolescents. The targeted results and impact for this project are to measurably increase adolescents' knowledge and practice of basic life skills and effective personality traits such as critical thinking, negotiation, problem-solving and decision taking, self-confidence and self-reliance among others. Promoting healthy lifestyles will help improve the overall health and well-being of adolescents as well as prevent and counter risky behaviours such as reckless driving, substance abuse and spreading of certain diseases such as HIV/Aids.
Social Investment (SI) or Corporate Social Responsibility as it is commonly known has long been an essential element of the way Shell operates. Shell SI focus in Oman is centred around Education, Training for Employment, Road Safety and the Environment as the main theme, but with specific objective to target children and women, as well as ensuring that the benefits are felt not only in Muscat but in the rest of the Sultanate as well. By helping to create jobs and enhance skills, Shell seeks to continue contributing to the sustainable development of the nation.
By Staff Reporter
© Oman Daily Observer 2006
