Today is Teacher’s Day in Oman, and educators across the nation will be celebrated today with ceremonies and gifts of appreciation. In the government school system, there are 1242 schools with 729,331 students and 57,033 teachers. There are a further 900 or so private schools with thousands of teachers, most of them expatriate.

There are various issues of concern facing teachers. One is the desire to Omanize teaching positions in government schools, coupled with a lack of qualified Omani teachers. (A relatively small percentage of graduating Omanis want to become teachers.) A large number of experienced teachers have been retiring over the past three or four years, compounding the problem. Secondly, the classrooms are often overcrowded, making quality education difficult. A third area is abuse (bullying to physical and sexual abuse) at school: teacher to student and student to student. People have started talking about this more, and camera installation and other measures have started to be taken to prevent it. But there remains much more to be done.

“All your children shall be taught by the LORD, and great shall be the peace of your children.”  (Isaiah 54:13)

Let’s pray for teachers today in Oman:

• For more Omanis to want to and to become equipped to become teachers. 
• For teachers’ courage and patience and hope in dealing with large numbers of often-unruly students. 
• For the believing ex-pat teachers in the system to be salty salt and bright light as long as they can remain.
• For more resources and qualified teachers for special needs education.

Worship with us!: Teach Me, Oh Lord by Emerald Hymns. May the people of Oman be taught by You!

Matthew 18:14 Focus—‘Your Father in heaven does not want one of these little ones to be lost.’ 

Please bring these towns and villages before the Father:

Hil, Sama’il district, Ad-Dakhliyah region. Population: 1,419

Mahram, Sama’il district, Ad-Dakhliyah region. Population: 1,247

Al-Uyaynah, Sama’il district, Ad-Dakhliyah region. Population: 1,128

Fayhah, Sama’il district, Ad-Dakhliyah region. Population: 989

Ad-Dasur, Sama’il district, Ad-Dakhliyah region. Population: 976

Al-Afyah, Sama’il district, Ad-Dakhliyah region. Population: 973