Oman Ministry of Manpower endorses and adopts ICDL in its technology colleges, vocational training centers and institutes

This initiative is considered one of the major strategic steps taken by the Ministry to maintain high education and training standards among students and job seekers.

H.E. Hamad bin Khamis Al Amiri, Undersecretary of Technical Education and Vocational Training of Oman Minister of Manpower, and Jamil Ezzo, Director General of ICDL GCC Foundation, have signed the agreement and confirmed that the implementation of the ICDL program will be in operation starting this upcoming academic year.

H.E. Al Amiri said,

"We are very pleased to announce this agreement as we view it to be in line with our goal to continually develop our technology education and vocational training in our colleges and training institutes to empower our national capability in conformity with the job market requirements. In preparation for this agreement, a delegation headed by H.E. Dr. Juma bin Ali Al Juma, Minister of Manpower, visited the head office of the ECDL Foundation in Dublin, Ireland, and it became clear to us from studies and experiences we reviewed during the visits we carried out that the countries that adopted the ICDL as a standard within its educational system and employee development programs have succeeded in enhancing education, improving employee performance and promulgating digital literacy among its citizens."

Jamil Ezzo, said, "This initiative taken by the Ministry of Manpower is considered one of the most important digital literacy initiatives in the region. This is clear evidence that the Government of Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said is focusing on promoting digital literacy in the Sultanate. We take this opportunity to thank H.E. the Minister of Manpower for his trust in the international standards of the ICDL program."

ICDL is a vendor-neutral digital literacy program that is acknowledged through testing and proves that the certificate holder has fundamental skills in Information Technology, Using the Computer and Managing Files, Word Processing, Spreadsheet, Database, Presentation, and Information and Communication (Internet and e-mail). The certificate is recognized and endorsed by education ministries, universities and government organizations worldwide. The ICDL program is based on a recognized global standard focusing not only on computer skills, but also on how students should use computers ethically and safely.

The ICDL program will offered by all the technology colleges and the vocational institutes during the foundation level of the upcoming academic year including the Higher College of Technology in Muscat, the colleges of technology in Shinas, Musan'a, Ibra, Nizwa, Salalah, and Ibri; as well as the vocational training centers in Seeb, Saham, Sure and Ibri.

In addition, the ICDL IT literacy program will be taught as the standard IT basic education program at all private institutes delivering IT training. This step will ensure that all private institutes comply with an internationally recognized standard in IT literacy by adhering to stringent quality assurance measures established by the ICDL foundation.