His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said also said he welcomed the setting up of new universities across the country.

Currently, Oman has one state-run university — the Sultan Qaboos University in Muscat, and a private university based in Sohar in the Batinah region.

At least three more privately-owned universities are in various stages of development in the southern Dhofar governorate, the interior Dhakhliya region and Muscat.

For some years now, the government has been encouraging the private sector to enter the higher education field in a big way to complement its own efforts and cater to the rising number of secondary school graduates.

“Knowledge and work are inseparable, since you cannot dispense one without the other,” Sultan Qaboos said as he inaugurated the annual session of the bicameral Council of Oman, comprising the State Council, the upper chamber whose members are nominated, and the Majlis Ash’shura, the council of elected representatives of people.

This year’s session coincided with the 25^th anniversary of the setting up of the State Consultative Council (SCC), later re-constituted as the Majlis Ash’shura, in November 1981. SCC was a nominated body, whereas members of the Majlis are now elected through an open ballot.

The first elections, in which all citizens aged 21 and above are eligible to vote and stand as candidates, were held in 2003. The next vote is due to be held in September or October 2007.

Sultan Qaboos, who reviewed the country’s progress and referred to future plans, particularly focused on human resources development and jobs for nationals in his speech.

He stressed that it was through knowledge and work that nations can develop “their illustrious qualities and shape their present and future existence,” adding: “It is through this that human beings fulfil themselves and achieve their ambitions for a decent, stable life and a future brimming with hope and prosperity.

“We are certain that the Omani society is fully aware of this fact. In this connection we should like to declare that we have decided to provide appropriate assistance for private universities. This will encourage them to carry out their duty to provide society with highly-qualified people.”

He expressed satisfaction with the country’s achievements in spreading higher education to different regions through the establishment of private universities. He welcomed the establishment of new such universities in other regions that required higher educational institutions, “provided that objective studies prove their feasibility and that their programmes ensure that the students are successful in the work place, and also guarantee that their certificates are recognised at both national and international levels.” Besides absorbing large numbers of higher education seekers, the new universities should provide high-quality education to students “since quantity is useless unless high standards are maintained in order to advance scientific and applicable skills,” he said, addressing the audience consisting of presidents and members of the two councils, royal family members, ministers and senior officials.