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06-01-2019

Oman Observer

Samuel Kutty

MUSCAT, The government, as part of its policy of building a strong and diversified Omani workforce, will continue to focus on training that is linked to employment. In this regard, the authorities will collaborate with priority sectors to identify job opportunities and understand current and future skill requirements.

“In an effort to continue building human capacity in the Sultanate and bridge the skills gap between education and job market needs, the National Training Fund (NTF) will continue to train Omani job-seekers,” says the 2019 Budget statement.

The NTF, which was set up by a Royal Decree in 2016 following National Programme for Enhancing Economic Diversification (Tanfeedh), will train 6,170 Omani nationals along with more groups of trainees in 2019.

According to Mohammed al Busaidi, Chairman of the Youth and Human Resources Development Committee at the Majlis Ash’shura, the mismatch between education and employment requirements is one of the major challenges in the job market.

“This has resulted from lack of communication and partnership between training providers and employers in the private sector,” he said.

Omani graduates need to have training programmes that are directly linked to employment opportunities in the private sector, which is the potential employer for many more Omani youth, he said.