COMMITTEE ON THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD
Forty-third session
11-29 September 2006
WRITTEN REPLIES BY THE GOVERNMENT OF OMAN TO THE LISTOF ISSUES (CRC/C/OMN/Q/2) FORMULATED BY THE COMMITTEEON THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD RELATING TO THE CONSIDERATION OF THE SECOND PERIODIC REPORT OF OMAN (CRC/C/OMN/2)*
Second periodic report of Oman on the implementation of the Convention on the rights of the Child
List of issues to be taken up in connection with the consideration of thesecond periodic report of OMAN (CRC/C/OMN/2)
Part I
A. Data and statistics, if available
1. Please provide disaggregated statistical data (by sex, age groups, ethnic groups, urban and rural areas) covering the years 2003, 2004 and 2005 on the number and percentage of children under the age of 18 living in Oman.
Table 1
Distribution of Omani children (under the age of 18), by age group, sex andplace of residence, 2003
|
Age group |
Urban |
Rural |
Total |
||||
|
Sex |
Total |
Sex |
Total |
||||
Male |
Female |
Male |
Female |
||||
|
< year |
14 307 |
14 073 |
25 380 |
7 528 |
7 528 |
10 056 |
43 436 |
|
1-4 years |
56 449 |
54 201 |
110 650 |
31 210 |
30 184 |
61 391 |
172 044 |
|
5-9 years |
77 081 |
73 438 |
150 519 |
44 139 |
42 818 |
86 957 |
237 436 |
|
10-14 years |
88 650 |
85 445 |
174 095 |
48 971 |
47 199 |
96 170 |
270 265 |
|
15-17 years |
52 190 |
49 811 |
102 001 |
26 727 |
26 137 |
53 864 |
154 865 |
|
Total |
288 677 |
276 968 |
565 645 |
158 575 |
153 866 |
312 441 |
878 086 |
|
Total population of Oman |
606 136 |
586 246 |
1 192 382 |
294 404 |
294 776 |
589 176 |
1 781 558 |
Source:General population, housing and institutions census, 2003.
Table 2
Distribution of Omani children (under the age of 18) as a percentage of the Omani population as a whole, by age group, sex and place of residence, 2003
|
Age group |
Urban |
Rural |
Total |
||||
|
Sex |
Total |
Sex |
Total |
||||
|
Male |
Female |
Male |
Female |
||||
|
(%) |
|||||||
|
< 1 year |
2.36 |
2.40 |
2.38 |
2.57 |
2.55 |
2.56 |
2.44 |
|
1-4 years |
9.31 |
9.25 |
9.28 |
10.24 |
10.42 |
10.42 |
9.66 |
|
5-9 years |
12.72 |
2.53 |
12.62 |
14.53 |
14.76 |
14.76 |
13.32 |
|
10-14 years |
14.63 |
14.57 |
14.99 |
16.62 |
16.01 |
16.32 |
15.17 |
|
15-17 years |
8.61 |
8.50 |
8.55 |
9.08 |
8.87 |
8.97 |
8.69 |
|
Total |
47.63 |
47.24 |
47.44 |
53.88 |
52.20 |
53.04 |
49.29 |
Source: General population, housing and institutions census, 2003.
Table 3
Distribution of Omani children (under the age of 18), by age group and sex,2004-2005
|
Age group |
2004 |
2005 |
||||
|
Sex |
Total |
Sex |
Total |
|||
|
Male |
Female |
Male |
Female |
|||
|
< 1 year |
21 594 |
21 178 |
42 772 |
22 222 |
21 792 |
44 014 |
|
1-4 years |
89 235 |
86 823 |
176 058 |
882 801 |
86 301 |
174 581 |
|
5-9 years |
120 655 |
116 042 |
236 197 |
7 611 |
113 132 |
230 742 |
|
10-14 years |
128 960 |
134 404 |
273 347 |
135 832 |
131 270 |
267 102 |
|
15-17 years |
83 724 |
80 299 |
164 023 |
84 881 |
81 782 |
16 663 |
|
Total |
454 168 |
438 756 |
892 897 |
448 826 |
434 277 |
883 102 |
|
Total population of Oman |
911 135 |
891 296 |
1 802 931 |
931 007 |
911 177 |
1 842 684 |
Source: Ministry of the National Economy.
Table 4
Distribution of Omani children (under the age of 18) as a percentage ofthe Omani population as a whole, by age group and sex, 2004-2005
|
Age group |
2004 |
2005 |
||||
|
Male |
Female |
Total |
Male |
Female |
Total |
|
|
(%) |
||||||
< 1 year |
2.37 |
2.37 |
2.37 |
2.39 |
2.39 |
2.39 |
|
1-4 years |
9.79 |
9.74 |
9.77 |
9.48 |
9.47 |
9.47 |
|
5-9 years |
12.24 |
13.01 |
13.13 |
12.63 |
12.41 |
12.52 |
|
10-14 years |
15.25 |
15.07 |
15.16 |
14.59 |
14.40 |
14.50 |
|
15-17 years |
9.19 |
9.00 |
9.10 |
9.12 |
8.97 |
9.04 |
|
Total |
49.85 |
49.20 |
49.53 |
48.21 |
47.63 |
47.92 |
Source: Ministry of the National Economy.
Note: (a) As there are no estimates for the number of children under the age of 1 in Oman who are not Omani, the data supplied are for Omani nationals only; and (b) there are no data disaggregated by urban/rural area for 2004 or 2005.
2. In the light of article 4 of the Convention, please provide disaggregated data on budget allocations and trends (in absolute figures and percentages of the national and regional budgets) for the years 2004, 2005 and 2006 regarding the implementation of the Convention, evaluating also the priorities for budgetary expenditures given to the following:
(a) Education (different types of education, i.e. pre-primary, primary and secondary);
(b) Health care (different types of health services, i.e. primary health care, vaccination programmes, adolescent health care, HIV/AIDS and other health-care services for children, including social insurance);
(c) Programmes and services for children with disabilities;
(d) Support programmes for families;
(e) Protection of children who are in need of alternative care, including kafalah , and support of care institutions;
(f) Programmes and activities for the prevention of and protection from child abuse, child sexual exploitation and child labour;
(g) Programmes and services for children of migrant workers; and
(h) Juvenile justice and the recovery and social reintegration of juvenile offenders.
Please also indicate the estimated expenses of the private sector, in particular for health and education.
(a)Education
Expenditure under the education budget
Expenditure under the budget for children with disabilities
Table 5
Expenditure by educational level
|
Grade |
Expenditure on education |
|||||
|
2003/04 |
2004/05 |
2005/06 |
||||
Amount (in Omani rials) |
% |
Amount (in Omani rials) |
% |
Amount (in Omani rials) |
% |
|
|
1-6 |
142 838 720 |
43.94 |
159 559 273 |
39.23 |
174 397 381 |
37.05 |
|
7-9 |
112 653 827 |
34.75 |
168 609 726 |
41.45 |
204 376 448 |
43.41 |
|
10-12 |
68 473 283 |
21.07 |
75 978 962 |
18.68 |
88 677 710 |
18.84 |
|
Special education for persons with disabilities |
784 092 |
0.24 |
995 206 |
0.24 |
1 630 041 |
0.34 |
|
Other expenditure (support services) |
- |
- |
1 627 994 |
0.40 |
1 696 420 |
0.36 |
|
Total |
325 049 922 |
100.00 |
406 771 161 |
100.00 |
480 768 000 |
100.00 |
Source: Ministry of Education.
Note: Total expenditure on special education is estimated at 24,493,250 Omani rials.
(b)Health care
Table 6
Total expenditure on health care by the Ministry of Health, 2003-2005
|
Year |
2003 |
2004 |
2005 |
|
Indicators |
|||
|
Total (in millions of Omani rials) |
172.0 |
176.5 |
199.6 |
|
As a percentage of total public spending |
5.7 |
4.9 |
4.7 |
Source: Ministry of Health.
Note: Although there are no disaggregated figures for individual programmes or the age groups they cater for, the Government’s commitment to improving health care for children is clear from the number of programmes dealing with children’s health.
Moreover, there is a budget line for child health care in the budgets of the Ministry of Defence, the Chancellery of the Royal Palace, Sultan Qaboos University and the Royal Oman Police.
(c)Programmes and services for children with disabilities
Table 7
Total expenditure on programmes and services for children with disabilities
|
Year |
Annual amount (in Omani rials) |
2004 |
78 945 |
|
2005 |
72 128 |
|
July 2006 |
30 325 |
Source: Ministry of Social Development.
(d)Support programmes for families
Table 8
Number of and expenditure on orphans receiving care
|
Year |
Number |
Annual expenditure (in Omani rials) |
|
2004 |
5 434 |
3 164 667 |
|
2005 |
5 620 |
3 638 504 |
|
July 2006 |
5 745 |
2 334 423 |
Source: Ministry of Social Development.
(e)Protection of children who are in need of alternative care
Table 9
Protection of children who are in need of alternative care, including kafalah,and support of care institutions (Child Care House)
|
Year |
Annual expenditure(in Omani rials) |
|
2004 |
69 439 |
|
2005 |
84 291 |
|
July 2006 |
43 208 |
Source: Ministry of Social Development.
Table 10
Expenditure on children’s programmes
|
Year |
Annual expenditure(in Omani rials) |
|
2004 |
51 961 |
|
2005 |
65 920 |
|
2006 |
121 180 |
Source: Ministry of Social Development.
3. With reference to children deprived of a family environment and separated from parents, please provide disaggregated data (by sex, age groups, if possible ethnic groups, urban and rural areas) for the years 2003, 2004 and 2005 on the number of children:
(a) Separated from their parents;
(b) Placed in institutions; or
(c) Placed through kafalah .
(a)Number of children separated from their parents
Six children were separated from their parents.
(b)Children placed in institutions
Table 11
Number of children placed in children’s institutions
|
Year |
2003 |
2004 |
2005 |
||||||
|
Age group |
Male |
Female |
Total |
Male |
Female |
Total |
Male |
Female |
Total |
|
< 5 years |
23 |
11 |
34 |
24 |
18 |
42 |
24 |
21 |
45 |
|
6-10 years |
21 |
6 |
27 |
24 |
7 |
31 |
25 |
6 |
31 |
|
11-15 years |
11 |
3 |
14 |
13 |
3 |
16 |
11 |
4 |
15 |
|
16-18 years |
1 |
- |
1 |
2 |
- |
2 |
7 |
1 |
8 |
|
Total |
56 |
20 |
76 |
63 |
28 |
91 |
67 |
32 |
99 |
Source : Ministry of Social Development.
(c)Children placed in “alternative families” under the kafalahsystem
Table 12
Number of children placed in alternative families, 2003
|
Region or province |
Age group |
||||||||
|
< 5 years |
6-10 years |
11-15 years |
16-18 years |
Total |
|||||
|
Male |
Female |
Male |
Female |
Male |
Female |
Male |
Female |
||
|
Mascate |
23 |
18 |
11 |
22 |
12 |
30 |
6 |
9 |
121 |
|
Zuffar |
1 |
4 |
5 |
13 |
6 |
4 |
4 |
5 |
42 |
|
Al-Batinah |
9 |
15 |
10 |
12 |
10 |
6 |
4 |
- |
66 |
|
Al-Sharqiyya |
1 |
2 |
2 |
5 |
2 |
3 |
3 |
1 |
19 |
|
Al-Zahirah |
3 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
3 |
6 |
4 |
- |
28 |
|
Al-Dajiliyah |
- |
1 |
- |
1 |
2 |
2 |
- |
- |
6 |
|
Total |
37 |
44 |
32 |
57 |
35 |
41 |
21 |
15 |
282 |
Source : Ministry of Social Development.
Table 13
Number of children placed in alternative families, 2004
|
Region or province |
Age group |
||||||||
|
< 5 years |
6-10 years |
11-15 years |
16-18 years |
Total |
|||||
|
Male |
Female |
Male |
Female |
Male |
Female |
Male |
Female |
||
|
Mascate |
21 |
19 |
13 |
18 |
12 |
25 |
5 |
7 |
120 |
|
Zuffar |
1 |
2 |
3 |
14 |
6 |
5 |
6 |
2 |
40 |
|
Al-Batinah |
6 |
16 |
10 |
13 |
12 |
5 |
2 |
1 |
66 |
|
Al-Sharqiyya |
1 |
1 |
2 |
5 |
2 |
3 |
1 |
1 |
16 |
|
Al-Zahirah |
2 |
5 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
5 |
2 |
1 |
28 |
|
Al-Dajiliyah |
- |
1 |
- |
1 |
2 |
2 |
- |
- |
6 |
|
Total |
31 |
44 |
32 |
55 |
39 |
45 |
17 |
13 |
276 |
Table 14
Number of children placed in alternative families, 2005
|
Region or province |
Age group |
||||||||
|
< 5 years |
6-10 years |
11-15 years |
16-18 years |
Total |
|||||
|
Male |
Female |
Male |
Female |
Male |
Female |
Male |
Female |
||
|
Mascate |
20 |
25 |
13 |
19 |
15 |
25 |
5 |
8 |
125 |
|
Zuffar |
1 |
- |
1 |
13 |
7 |
7 |
5 |
3 |
37 |
|
Al-Batinah |
4 |
12 |
11 |
12 |
12 |
7 |
2 |
2 |
63 |
|
Al-Sharqiyya |
1 |
- |
1 |
6 |
1 |
4 |
2 |
1 |
16 |
|
Al-Zahirah |
1 |
7 |
3 |
3 |
6 |
6 |
1 |
1 |
28 |
|
Al-Dajiliyah |
- |
2 |
- |
2 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
- |
8 |
|
Total |
27 |
41 |
29 |
56 |
42 |
51 |
16 |
15 |
277 |
Source: Ministry of Social Affairs.
4. Please specify the number of children with disabilities, up to the age of 18, disaggregated by sex, age groups, if possible ethnic groups, and urban and rural areas, covering the years 2003, 2004 and 2005:
(a) Living with their families;
(b) Living in institutions;
(c) Placed through kafalah ;
(d) Attending regular schools;
(e) Attending special schools; and
(f) Not attending schools.
(a)Living with their families
Table 15
Distribution of Omani children with disabilities under the age of 18,by age group, sex and place of residence
|
Age group |
Urban |
Total |
Rural |
Total |
Grand total |
||
|
Male |
Female |
Male |
Female |
||||
|
<1 year |
37 |
27 |
64 |
21 |
14 |
35 |
99 |
|
1-4 years |
460 |
332 |
792 |
310 |
216 |
526 |
1 318 |
|
5-9 years |
1 059 |
710 |
1 869 |
682 |
480 |
1 162 |
3 031 |
|
10-14 years |
1 557 |
1 129 |
2 686 |
918 |
716 |
1 234 |
4 320 |
|
15-17 years |
989 |
705 |
1 694 |
559 |
485 |
1 044 |
2 738 |
Total |
4 102 |
2 903 |
7 005 |
2 490 |
1 911 |
4 401 |
11 406 |
Source:General population, housing and institutions census, 2003.
(b)Living in institutions
Table 16
Number of children with disabilities between the ages of 3 and 14 treated in Child Care House
|
Year |
In-patients |
Out-patients |
Total |
||||||
|
Male |
Female |
Total |
Male |
Female |
Total |
Male |
Female |
Total |
|
|
2003 |
23 |
6 |
29 |
31 |
12 |
43 |
54 |
18 |
72 |
|
2004 |
27 |
9 |
36 |
29 |
15 |
44 |
56 |
24 |
80 |
|
2005 |
20 |
12 |
32 |
16 |
8 |
24 |
36 |
20 |
56 |
Source: Ministry of Social Development.
Table 17
Number of children between the ages of 14 and 25 in treatment and rehabilitationcentres for disabled persons (motor and hearing disabilities)
|
Year |
In-patient |
Out-Patient |
Total |
||||||
|
Male |
Female |
Total |
Male |
Female |
Total |
Male |
Female |
Total |
|
|
2003/04 |
51 |
35 |
86 |
14 |
2 |
16 |
65 |
37 |
102 |
|
2004/05 |
48 |
40 |
88 |
11 |
4 |
15 |
59 |
44 |
102 |
Source: Ministry of Social Development.
Table 18
Number of children attending schools run by theMinistry of Education (boarding, 2005)
|
School |
Male |
Female |
Total |
“Hope” school for the deaf |
56 |
- |
56 |
|
Omar Ibn Al-Jatab Institute for the Blind |
83 |
26 |
109 |
|
Total |
139 |
26 |
165 |
Source: Ministry of Education.
(e)Attending (non-State) special schools
Table 19
Number of children in special education overseen by the Ministry of Education
|
School |
2003 |
2004 |
2005 |
|
“Hope” school for the deaf |
243 |
301 |
298 |
|
Omar Ibn Al-Jatab Institute for the Blind |
83 |
97 |
105 |
|
School for the mentally handicapped |
298 |
299 |
320 |
|
Total |
624 |
687 |
723 |
Source: Ministry of Social Development.
Social welfare centresTable 20Number of persons in voluntary social centres, by type of disability and sex |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
No. of province |
Type of disability |
Mental disability |
Hearing disability |
Motor disability |
Visual disability |
Other type of disability |
Total |
Grand total |
||||||||||||||||||
|
Centre |
Slight |
Medium |
Deaf |
Hearing impaired |
Childhood paralysis (polio) |
Cerebral paralysis |
Muscular atrophy |
Blind |
Visually impaired |
Multiple disabilities |
Other |
|||||||||||||||
|
M |
F |
M |
F |
M |
F |
M |
F |
M |
F |
M |
F |
M |
F |
M |
F |
M |
F |
M |
F |
M |
F |
M |
F |
|||
|
1 |
Badid |
31 |
15 |
15 |
9 |
2 |
5 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
16 |
14 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
2 |
4 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
72 |
49 |
121 |
|
2 |
Nizwa |
26 |
31 |
33 |
21 |
9 |
8 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
5 |
8 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
73 |
69 |
142 |
|
3 |
Rustaq |
0 |
0 |
29 |
23 |
10 |
7 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
8 |
5 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
8 |
20 |
0 |
2 |
55 |
58 |
113 |
|
4 |
Ibra |
16 |
20 |
9 |
9 |
8 |
12 |
0 |
0 |
4 |
0 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
40 |
43 |
84 |
|
5 |
Sur |
9 |
10 |
2 |
10 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
5 |
0 |
0 |
4 |
5 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
3 |
21 |
31 |
57 |
|
6 |
Al-Buraymi |
6 |
3 |
19 |
17 |
3 |
3 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
8 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
3 |
2 |
0 |
3 |
2 |
40 |
39 |
79 |
|
7 |
Abri |
21 |
23 |
18 |
16 |
3 |
4 |
18 |
14 |
3 |
2 |
5 |
5 |
4 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
10 |
1 |
69 |
67 |
136 |
|
8 |
Salalah |
15 |
14 |
26 |
22 |
20 |
26 |
10 |
6 |
0 |
0 |
17 |
6 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
12 |
6 |
4 |
0 |
106 |
83 |
189 |
|
9 |
Suhar |
22 |
14 |
25 |
26 |
10 |
14 |
13 |
6 |
0 |
0 |
4 |
9 |
2 |
7 |
0 |
0 |
5 |
1 |
3 |
4 |
1 |
2 |
88 |
82 |
171 |
|
10 |
Taqah |
6 |
4 |
9 |
7 |
6 |
8 |
4 |
5 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
6 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
29 |
37 |
61 |
|
11 |
Mirbat |
0 |
5 |
4 |
7 |
5 |
6 |
5 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
5 |
9 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
23 |
29 |
52 |
|
12 |
Al-Mudaybi |
5 |
16 |
21 |
20 |
3 |
6 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
4 |
6 |
3 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
37 |
57 |
89 |
|
13 |
Izki |
14 |
9 |
23 |
20 |
1 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
1 |
0 |
10 |
5 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
54 |
46 |
100 |
|
14 |
Bahla |
16 |
20 |
9 |
6 |
8 |
12 |
0 |
0 |
4 |
0 |
3 |
6 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
40 |
40 |
81 |
|
15 |
Al-Amrat |
0 |
0 |
20 |
9 |
0 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
9 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
3 |
0 |
1 |
21 |
17 |
41 |
|
16 |
Shinas |
5 |
8 |
17 |
15 |
0 |
0 |
8 |
8 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
35 |
38 |
73 |
|
17 |
As-Suwayq |
2 |
4 |
32 |
27 |
4 |
7 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
43 |
40 |
83 |
|
18 |
Jasab |
3 |
3 |
4 |
3 |
3 |
4 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
17 |
12 |
29 |
|
19 |
Al-Jaburah |
5 |
12 |
12 |
4 |
7 |
6 |
2 |
3 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
1 |
6 |
3 |
1 |
0 |
37 |
41 |
78 |
|
Grand total |
202 |
211 |
327 |
381 |
103 |
136 |
70 |
56 |
8 |
5 |
90 |
1 |
14 |
18 |
6 |
9 |
15 |
11 |
44 |
41 |
16 |
17 |
905 |
874 |
1 779 |
|
|
Total by group |
413 |
608 |
239 |
126 |
23 |
179 |
32 |
15 |
26 |
85 |
33 |
1 779 |
||||||||||||||
|
Total for all disabilities |
1 020 |
365 |
234 |
41 |
118 |
|
Table 21 Disabled groups who were treated in voluntary social centres in 2005 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Type of disability |
Mental disability |
Hearing disability |
Motor disability |
Visual disability |
Other type of disability |
Total |
Grand total |
||||||||||||||||||
|
Centre |
Slight |
Medium |
Deaf |
Hearing impaired |
Childhood paralysis (polio) |
Cerebral paralysis |
Muscular atrophy |
Blind |
Visually impaired |
Multiple disabilities |
Other |
||||||||||||||
|
M |
F |
M |
F |
M |
F |
M |
F |
M |
F |
M |
F |
M |
F |
M |
F |
M |
F |
M |
F |
M |
F |
M |
F |
||
|
Badid |
13 |
4 |
20 |
10 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
12 |
11 |
3 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
54 |
32 |
86 |
|
Nizwa |
36 |
39 |
28 |
15 |
4 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
6 |
7 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
74 |
66 |
140 |
|
Rustaq |
0 |
0 |
30 |
25 |
8 |
6 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
7 |
7 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
7 |
19 |
0 |
2 |
52 |
60 |
112 |
|
Ibra |
17 |
20 |
9 |
9 |
8 |
12 |
0 |
0 |
5 |
0 |
3 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
43 |
45 |
88 |
|
Sur |
9 |
10 |
2 |
10 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
5 |
0 |
0 |
4 |
5 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
3 |
21 |
36 |
57 |
|
Al-Buraymi |
6 |
2 |
22 |
17 |
3 |
3 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
8 |
8 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
1 |
45 |
35 |
80 |
|
Abri |
42 |
31 |
14 |
13 |
2 |
5 |
6 |
17 |
5 |
4 |
4 |
3 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
76 |
76 |
152 |
|
Salalah |
18 |
15 |
25 |
26 |
20 |
26 |
11 |
7 |
0 |
0 |
21 |
8 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
13 |
6 |
0 |
0 |
113 |
91 |
204 |
|
Suhar |
22 |
14 |
25 |
26 |
10 |
14 |
13 |
6 |
1 |
0 |
4 |
9 |
0 |
7 |
0 |
0 |
5 |
1 |
3 |
4 |
4 |
2 |
88 |
83 |
171 |
|
Taqah |
5 |
4 |
7 |
6 |
6 |
8 |
2 |
4 |
0 |
0 |
4 |
2 |
0 |
3 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
27 |
28 |
55 |
|
Mirbat |
3 |
4 |
6 |
7 |
4 |
5 |
3 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
5 |
5 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
23 |
27 |
50 |
|
Al-Mudaybi |
5 |
16 |
21 |
20 |
3 |
6 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
4 |
6 |
3 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
37 |
52 |
89 |
|
Izki |
15 |
9 |
22 |
20 |
1 |
3 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
10 |
9 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
1 |
53 |
43 |
96 |
|
Bahla |
12 |
11 |
37 |
34 |
7 |
8 |
3 |
4 |
0 |
4 |
7 |
5 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
68 |
67 |
135 |
|
Al-Amrat |
7 |
4 |
6 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
4 |
6 |
5 |
4 |
22 |
17 |
39 |
|
Shinas |
8 |
6 |
30 |
29 |
0 |
0 |
8 |
10 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
7 |
1 |
4 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
0 |
54 |
59 |
113 |
|
As-Suwayq |
2 |
4 |
32 |
37 |
4 |
7 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
44 |
43 |
87 |
|
Jasab |
3 |
3 |
4 |
3 |
3 |
4 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
18 |
17 |
30 |
|
Al-Jaburah |
9 |
8 |
8 |
15 |
4 |
4 |
7 |
7 |
7 |
6 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
8 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
4 |
39 |
47 |
86 |
|
Registered with centres |
232 |
204 |
348 |
313 |
90 |
119 |
26 |
68 |
21 |
16 |
106 |
96 |
19 |
22 |
6 |
8 |
13 |
12 |
33 |
39 |
21 |
22 |
951 |
919 |
1 870 |
|
Total |
426 |
661 |
209 |
130 |
37 |
202 |
41 |
14 |
25 |
24 |
43 |
1 870 |
|||||||||||||
|
Total for all disabilities |
1 097 |
339 |
380 |
39 |
115 |
Centres of the Association for Disabled Children
Table 22
Statistics on the number of children in the centres, disaggregatedby sex and type of disability, rehabilitation period 2003/04
|
Centre |
Mental disability |
Hearing disability |
Motor disability |
Double disability |
Learning difficulties |
Autism |
Total |
Grand total |
|||||||
|
M |
F |
M |
F |
M |
F |
M |
F |
M |
F |
M |
F |
M |
F |
||
|
Al-Udaybah |
27 |
23 |
3 |
- |
2 |
8 |
5 |
4 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
37 |
35 |
|
|
As-Sib |
27 |
30 |
7 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
7 |
3 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
43 |
27 |
|
|
Qurayyat |
21 |
17 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
- |
1 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
23 |
21 |
|
|
Yaalan Bani Abu Hasan |
24 |
16 |
3 |
9 |
2 |
5 |
- |
1 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
29 |
31 |
|
|
Sahm |
36 |
19 |
2 |
3 |
- |
- |
6 |
1 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
44 |
23 |
|
|
Danak |
6 |
6 |
- |
2 |
2 |
4 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
8 |
12 |
|
|
At-Tawahud |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
21 |
5 |
21 |
5 |
|
|
Total |
141 |
101 |
16 |
18 |
9 |
20 |
18 |
10 |
- |
- |
21 |
5 |
205 |
154 |
359 |
|
Family counselling |
55 |
31 |
86 |
Note: A total of 86 children registered with the Association and all its centres were included in the family counselling programme. The grand total in the centres, with 359 children plus the 86 from the family counselling programme, was 445.
Table 23
Statistics on the number of children in the centres, disaggregated by sex and type of disability, rehabilitation period 2004/05
|
Centre |
Mental disability |
Hearing disability |
Motor disability |
Double disability |
Learning difficulties |
Autism |
Total |
Grand total |
|||||||
|
M |
F |
M |
F |
M |
F |
M |
F |
M |
F |
M |
F |
M |
F |
||
|
Al-Udaybah |
28 |
21 |
2 |
2 |
3 |
5 |
3 |
4 |
1 |
- |
- |
- |
37 |
32 |
|
|
As-Sib |
24 |
18 |
5 |
1 |
3 |
7 |
10 |
2 |
2 |
- |
- |
- |
44 |
28 |
|
|
Qurayyat |
19 |
13 |
1 |
2 |
- |
2 |
1 |
1 |
- |
- |
2 |
2 |
23 |
19 |
|
|
Yaalan Bani Abu Hasan |
23 |
17 |
4 |
7 |
3 |
3 |
- |
2 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
29 |
29 |
|
|
Sahm |
32 |
25 |
2 |
4 |
1 |
1 |
7 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
42 |
30 |
|
|
Danak |
8 |
10 |
2 |
4 |
- |
- |
2 |
3 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
12 |
17 |
|
|
At-Tawahud |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
15 |
8 |
15 |
8 |
|
|
Total |
133 |
104 |
16 |
20 |
10 |
18 |
23 |
12 |
3 |
- |
17 |
9 |
202 |
163 |
365 |
|
Family counselling |
57 |
33 |
90 |
Note: A total of 90 children registered with the Association and 10 not registered with it, in all its centres, were included in the family counselling programme. The grand total in the centres, with 365 children plus the 90 from the family counselling programme, was 455.
5. Please provide disaggregated statistical data (by sex, age groups, if possible ethnic groups, urban and rural areas) covering the years 2003, 2004 and 2005 on:
(a) Rates of infant and child mortality;
(b) Rates of immunization;
(c) Rates of malnutrition;
(d) Children infected with and/or affected by HIV/AIDS;
(e) Adolescent health, including early pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections (STIs), mental health problems (e.g. suicide rates, eating disorders, depression), tobacco use, alcohol and drug abuse; and
(f) The number of health professionals working in health-care services for children.
(a)Rates of infant and child mortality
Table 24
Number and percentage of deaths among babies and children
|
Age group |
2003 |
2004 |
2005 |
||
|
Male |
Female |
Total |
|||
|
< 7 days |
182 |
181 |
111 |
76 |
187 |
|
7-28 days |
47 |
47 |
20 |
18 |
38 |
|
29 days-1 year |
106 |
96 |
45 |
45 |
90 |
|
1-4 years |
51 |
55 |
26 |
37 |
63 |
|
5-14 years |
71 |
78 |
43 |
19 |
62 |
|
Mortality among under-5s (per 1,000 live births) |
11.08 |
11.09 |
- |
- |
11.05 |
Source: Ministry of Health.
(b)Rates of immunization
Table 25
Child immunization coverage (%)
|
Year |
2003 |
2004 |
2005 |
|
Immunization coverage |
99% |
98% |
98% |
Source: Ministry of Health.
Table 26
Immunization coverage among children under the age of 1 in 2003, 2004 and 2005
|
Year |
BCG |
Polio (OPV) |
Diphtheria, pertussis and tetanus (DPT, triple vaccine) |
Hepatitis B (HBV) |
Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib, permanent) |
Measles |
Measles, mumps and rubella (MMR, triple vaccine) |
|||
|
First dose |
Third dose |
First dose |
Third dose |
Third dose |
First dose |
Third dose |
||||
|
2003 |
98.1 |
98.2 |
99.9 |
98.1 |
98.8 |
96.9 |
97.5 |
99.9 |
97.89 |
97.7 |
|
2004 |
99 |
99 |
99 |
99 |
99 |
99 |
99 |
99 |
98 |
98 |
|
2005 |
98 |
99.9 |
99.1 |
99.6 |
99.9 |
99.9 |
99.9 |
99.9 |
97.8 |
97 |
Source: Ministry of Health.
(c)Rates of malnutrition
Table 27
Indicators for child malnutrition, 2003-2005
|
Indicators |
2003 |
2004 |
2005 |
|
New cases of malnutrition related to calorie intake |
4 238 |
4 580 |
5 388 |
|
Cases per 1,000 children under the age of 5 |
17 |
19 |
22 |
|
Percentage of cases of acute malnutrition |
18.1 |
7.7 |
7.1 |
|
Percentage of cases of malnutrition requiring hospitalization |
4.7 |
6.1 |
5.7 |
|
Percentage of cases in which complications of malnutrition required hospitalization |
18.3 |
15.3 |
10.3 |
|
Number of deaths resulting from malnutrition |
6 |
0 |
3 |
Source: Ministry of Health.
(d)Children infected with and/or affected by HIV/AIDS
Table 28
Number of children and young people affected by AIDS, by age group, 2003-2005
|
Age group |
2003 |
2004 |
2005 |
|
< 1 year |
0 |
0 |
1 |
|
1-4 years |
1 |
1 |
0 |
|
5-14 years |
0 |
2 |
2 |
|
15-17 years |
0 |
0 |
1 |
|
18-20 years |
1 |
5 |
6 |
Source: Ministry of Health.
(f)The number of health professionals working in health-care services for children
In 2005 there were 156 doctors (Omanis or of other nationalities) providing health care for children. These doctors specialized in various areas of paediatric medicine.
Basic health care is provided for children in all health centres in Oman by general practitioners and specialists, and specialized care is provided in the bigger hospitals and clinics.
The initiative to provide comprehensive care for children and newborns is implemented in 65 per cent of the health centres in all regions of Oman.
8. With reference to the right to education, please provide disaggregated statistical data (by sex, age groups, if possible ethnic groups, urban and rural areas, immigrant children) covering the years 2003, 2004 and 2005, in percentage of the relevant age group, on the:
(a) Rates of literacy (under 18 years);
(b) Rate of enrolment in pre-primary, primary and secondary schools;
(c) Percentage of children completing primary and secondary education;
(d) Number and percentage of dropouts and repetitions; and
(e) Teacher per child ratio and number of children per class.
(a)Rates of literacy (under 18 years)
Table 29Distribution of Omani children (under age 18) who can read and write, by age group, sex and place of residence, in numbers and as a percentage, 2003 |
||||||||||||||
|
Age group |
Urban |
Rural |
||||||||||||
|
Male |
Male (%) |
Female |
Female (%) |
Total |
Total (%) |
Male |
Male (%) |
Female |
Female (%) |
Total |
Total (%) |
Grand total |
Grand total (%) |
|
|
10-14 years |
87 916 |
99.17 |
84 832 |
99.28 |
172 748 |
99.23 |
48 349 |
98.73 |
45 947 |
97.35 |
94 296 |
98.05 |
167 044 |
98.81 |
|
15-17 years |
51 620 |
99.10 |
49 269 |
98.91 |
100 989 |
99.01 |
26 295 |
98.38 |
24 919 |
95.34 |
51 214 |
96.88 |
152 202 |
98.28 |
|
Total |
139 626 |
11.15 |
134 101 |
99.15 |
273 737 |
99.15 |
74 644 |
98.61 |
70 866 |
96.63 |
145 510 |
97.64 |
419 247 |
98.62 |
Source: Ministry of the National Economy.
(b)Enrolment in kindergartens (%)
Table 30Enrolment in kindergartens overseen by the Ministry of Education (%) |
||||||
|
School year |
Net enrolment |
Total enrolment |
||||
|
Male |
Female |
Total |
Male |
Female |
Total |
|
|
2003 |
7.36 |
6.50 |
6.24 |
8.55 |
7.71 |
8.14 |
|
2004 |
8.30 |
7.67 |
7.99 |
9.75 |
9.16 |
9.46 |
|
2005 |
9.30 |
9.20 |
9.29 |
11.11 |
10.33 |
10.73 |
Table 31
Number of crèches, children’s centres and child development homes overseen by the Ministry of Social Development and number of children in them, by sex, 2005
|
Region/province |
Crèches |
Children’s centres |
Child development homes |
||||||||||
|
No. of crèches |
Male |
Female |
Total |
No. of centres |
Male |
Female |
Total |
No. of homes |
Male |
Female |
Total |
||
|
Mascate |
Number |
25 |
803 |
778 |
1 581 |
3 |
146 |
150 |
296 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
% |
74.4 |
83 |
83 |
83 |
5 |
5 |
5.5 |
5 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
Al-Batinah |
Number |
1 |
15 |
18 |
33 |
16 |
1 006 |
1.41 |
2 047 |
8 |
489 |
547 |
1 036 |
|
% |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
28.5 |
37 |
38 |
38 |
35 |
42 |
45 |
44 |
|
|
Al-Sharqiyyah |
Number |
3 |
30 |
24 |
54 |
11 |
44 |
519 |
1 063 |
3 |
107 |
110 |
217 |
|
% |
6.3 |
3 |
3 |
2 |
20 |
20 |
19 |
19.5 |
13 |
9 |
9 |
9 |
|
|
Al-Dajiliyyah |
Number |
3 |
51 |
41 |
42 |
9 |
641 |
640 |
1 281 |
8 |
452 |
458 |
910 |
|
% |
6.3 |
5 |
4 |
5 |
16 |
24 |
23.5 |
24 |
25 |
39 |
38 |
38 |
|
|
Al-Zahirah |
Number |
5 |
68 |
77 |
145 |
11 |
240 |
236 |
476 |
4 |
119 |
99 |
218 |
|
% |
11 |
7 |
8 |
7 |
20 |
9 |
9 |
9 |
107 |
10 |
8 |
9 |
|
|
Mustadam |
Number |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
4 |
102 |
92 |
194 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
% |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
7 |
4 |
3 |
3.5 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
Zuffar |
Number |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
29 |
42 |
71 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
% |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
3.5 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
Total |
Number |
47 |
967 |
938 |
1 905 |
56 |
2 708 |
2 720 |
5 428 |
23 |
1 167 |
1 214 |
2 381 |
|
% |
100 |
51 |
49 |
100 |
100 |
50 |
50 |
100 |
100 |
49 |
51 |
100 |
B. Public school enrolment rates, grades 1 to 12
Table 32
Enrolment rates, by sex and type of education, from the 2003-2004school year to the 2005-2006 school year
|
School year |
Grade |
Overall enrolment rate |
Net enrolment rate |
Enrolment rate among school-age people |
||||||
|
Male |
Female |
Total |
Male |
Female |
Total |
Male |
Female |
Total |
||
|
2003/04 |
1 to 6 |
101 |
99 |
100 |
89 |
98.3 |
89.1 |
91.2 |
91.4 |
91.3 |
|
7 to 9 |
98 |
88.50 |
93.3 |
29.2 |
70.1 |
69.6 |
87.5 |
85.2 |
86.4 |
|
|
10 to 12 |
79.10 |
81.40 |
80.5 |
53.7 |
62.5 |
58 |
78.1 |
77 |
77.5 |
|
|
2004/05 |
1 to 6 |
100.60 |
99.60 |
100.1 |
89.7 |
89.8 |
89.8 |
92.1 |
91.9 |
92 |
|
7 to 9 |
101.50 |
91.60 |
96.57 |
72.4 |
73.5 |
72.92 |
87.3 |
87.3 |
87.3 |
|
|
10 to 12 |
79.60 |
79.40 |
79.66 |
53.5 |
62 |
57.69 |
77.5 |
76.2 |
76.90 |
|
|
2005/06 |
1 to 6 |
100.11 |
99.53 |
99.83 |
89.26 |
90.15 |
89.69 |
91.66 |
92.9 |
92.27 |
|
7 to 9 |
99.85 |
93.49 |
96.72 |
23.98 |
75.65 |
74.8 |
88.92 |
89.9 |
89.4 |
|
|
10 to 12 |
85.56 |
81.99 |
83.78 |
62.42 |
23.60 |
12.98 |
82.02 |
75.52 |
78.81 |
Source: Ministry of Education.
C. Percentage of pupils completing basic education (grades 1 to 12)
Table 33
Percentage who passed, by grade (public and private schools) during the period from the 2002-2003 school year to the 2004-2005 school year
|
Grade |
2002/03 |
2003/04 |
2004/05 |
||||||
|
Male |
Female |
Total |
Male |
Female |
Total |
Male |
Female |
Total |
|
|
1 |
98.42 |
98.64 |
98.53 |
98.58 |
98.83 |
98.70 |
99.2 |
66.6 |
99.4 |
|
2 |
99.61 |
99.72 |
99.66 |
99.59 |
99.92 |
66.75 |
100 |
99.7 |
99.9 |
|
3 |
99.87 |
99.74 |
99.81 |
99.59 |
99.57 |
99.58 |
96.6 |
99.9 |
99.9 |
|
4 |
97.19 |
97.99 |
97.58 |
100.22 |
99.78 |
100.01 |
100 |
100.4 |
100.5 |
|
5 |
97.69 |
98.10 |
97.84 |
97.95 |
97.44 |
97.70 |
97.2 |
60.7 |
96.5 |
|
6 |
99.40 |
99.33 |
99.37 |
98.49 |
98.58 |
98.53 |
98.1 |
98 |
98.1 |
|
7 |
86.59 |
93.33 |
89.29 |
84.99 |
92.34 |
88.40 |
67.3 |
97.8 |
97.6 |
|
8 |
89 |
93.62 |
91.18 |
93.20 |
97.09 |
94.97 |
67.6 |
98.5 |
98.0 |
|
9 |
90.84 |
93.74 |
92.24 |
88.99 |
93.45 |
91.13 |
95.9 |
97.8 |
96.8 |
|
10 |
83.87 |
87.80 |
85.79 |
80.36 |
86.68 |
87.41 |
94.7 |
97.1 |
95.8 |
|
11 (arts) |
92.10 |
95.31 |
93.77 |
87.52 |
95.12 |
91.79 |
94.5 |
97.6 |
96 |
|
11 (science) |
86.73 |
92.81 |
89.71 |
||||||
|
12 (arts) |
85.35 |
92.21 |
89.01 |
81.24 |
92.74 |
87.26 |
93.9 |
98 |
96 |
|
12 (science) |
81.00 |
90.90 |
85.84 |
75.70 |
90.47 |
82.63 |
Source: Ministry of Education.
D. Number of dropouts
Table 34
Number of pupils who drop out of school
|
Grade |
2002/03 |
2003/04 |
2004/05 |
|||
|
Male |
Female |
Male |
Female |
Male |
Female |
|
|
1 |
361 |
240 |
285 |
229 |
106 |
55 |
|
2 |
86 |
54 |
88 |
5 |
77 |
95 |
|
3 |
21 |
59 |
98 |
98 |
89 |
51 |
|
4 |
237 |
186 |
88 |
51 |
49 |
55 |
|
5 |
96 |
222 |
78 |
179 |
316 |
247 |
|
6 |
152 |
2 |
0 |
82 |
167 |
118 |
|
Total (grades 1 to 6) |
953 |
763 |
637 |
644 |
804 |
621 |
|
7 |
1 060 |
253 |
1 047 |
647 |
484 |
281 |
|
8 |
858 |
504 |
830 |
111 |
479 |
218 |
|
9 |
772 |
477 |
860 |
481 |
1 074 |
436 |
|
Total (grades 7 to 9) |
2 690 |
1 334 |
2 737 |
1 239 |
2 037 |
935 |
|
10 |
1 478 |
1 152 |
1 826 |
1 154 |
917 |
515 |
|
11 (arts) |
95 |
121 |
990 |
471 |
777 |
365 |
|
11 (science) |
815 |
377 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
12 (arts) |
664 |
382 |
1 076 |
567 |
1 108 |
367 |
|
12 (science) |
886 |
480 |
1 172 |
567 |
2 802 |
1 247 |
|
Total (grades 10 to 12) |
3 938 |
2 512 |
5 114 |
2 709 |
6 045 |
2 494 |
Table 35
Dropout rate
|
Grade |
2002/03 |
2003/04 |
2004/05 |
|||
|
Male |
Female |
Male |
Female |
Male |
Female |
|
|
1 |
1.4 |
1 |
1.3 |
1.0 |
0.5 |
0.3 |
|
2 |
0.3 |
0.2 |
0.4 |
0.0 |
0.3 |
0.4 |
|
3 |
0.1 |
0.2 |
0.4 |
0.4 |
0.4 |
0.2 |
|
4 |
0.8 |
0.7 |
0.3 |
0.2 |
0.2 |
0.2 |
|
5 |
0.3 |
0.9 |
0.3 |
0.7 |
1.1 |
0.9 |
|
6 |
0.6 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.3 |
0.6 |
0.4 |
|
Total (grades 1 to 6) |
0.4 |
0.5 |
0.3 |
0.4 |
0.2 |
0.2 |
|
7 |
3.3 |
1.4 |
3.5 |
2.5 |
1.6 |
1.1 |
|
8 |
3.2 |
2.2 |
2.8 |
0.4 |
1.8 |
0.9 |
|
9 |
3.2 |
2.1 |
3.5 |
2.1 |
3.6 |
1.7 |
|
Total (grades 7 to 9) |
3.3 |
1.9 |
3.3 |
1.7 |
2.4 |
1.2 |
|
10 |
6.1 |
5.0 |
7.7 |
5.1 |
3.7 |
2.2 |
|
11 (arts) |
1 |
1.2 |
4.6 |
2.2 |
3.6 |
1.8 |
|
11 (science) |
7.8 |
3.7 |
||||
|
12 (arts) |
8.4 |
4.2 |
11.5 |
5.5 |
4.2 |
1.9 |
|
12 (science) |
8.2 |
4.6 |
11.5 |
5.3 |
1.8 |
0.9 |
|
Total (grades 10 to 12) |
6.3 |
4.0 |
7.8 |
4.2 |
1.8 |
0.9 |
Source:Ministry of Education.
Table 36
Number of pupils repeating a year
|
Grade |
2002/03 |
2003/04 |
2004/05 |
|||
|
Male |
Female |
Male |
Female |
Male |
Female |
|
|
1 |
No end of year exams |
No end of year exams |
1 |
1 |
||
|
2 |
1 |
1 |
||||
|
3 |
2 |
1 |
||||
|
4 |
587 |
406 |
1 |
3 |
||
|
5 |
464 |
247 |
441 |
366 |
1 179 |
1 608 |
|
6 |
264 |
129 |
306 |
189 |
942 |
633 |
|
Total (grades 1 to 6) |
1 315 |
782 |
747 |
555 |
2 126 |
2 247 |
|
7 |
4 002 |
1 573 |
3 909 |
1 549 |
873 |
638 |
|
8 |
2 444 |
1 280 |
1 278 |
508 |
454 |
343 |
|
9 |
1 861 |
1 198 |
2 320 |
1 372 |
532 |
479 |
|
Total (grades 7 to 9) |
8 307 |
4 050 |
7 507 |
3 429 |
1 859 |
1 460 |
|
10 |
3 385 |
2 423 |
3 962 |
2 715 |
629 |
479 |
|
11 (arts) |
608 |
366 |
1 033 |
236 |
739 |
463 |
|
11 (science) |
1 088 |
646 |
1 135 |
538 |
||
|
12 (arts) |
898 |
352 |
1 422 |
474 |
275 |
48 |
|
12 (science) |
1 502 |
896 |
2 093 |
676 |
294 |
92 |
|
Total (grades 10 to 12) |
7 481 |
4 683 |
9 645 |
4 639 |
1 937 |
1 082 |
Table 37
Percentage of pupils repeating a year
|
Grade |
2002/03 |
2003/04 |
2004/05 |
|||
|
Male |
Female |
Male |
Female |
Male |
Female |
|
|
1 |
No end of year exams |
No end of year exams |
0.3 |
0.2 |
||
|
2 |
0.1 |
0.0 |
||||
|
3 |
0.1 |
0.1 |
||||
|
4 |
4.4 |
3.3 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
||
|
5 |
3.9 |
1.7 |
3.3 |
2.9 |
5.5 |
6.1 |
|
6 |
1.8 |
0.9 |
2.3 |
1.5 |
4.2 |
2.8 |
|
Total (grades 1 to 6) |
2.0 |
1.9 |
2.8 |
2.2 |
1.9 |
1.8 |
|
7 |
21.7 |
10.9 |
24.0 |
11.1 |
3.5 |
2.9 |
|
8 |
9.8 |
5.6 |
6.1 |
4.3 |
2.5 |
1.5 |
|
9 |
7.9 |
5.4 |
9.8 |
6.2 |
2.8 |
2.5 |
|
Total (grades 7 to 9) |
12.4 |
1.8 |
13.9 |
7.2 |
3.0 |
2.3 |
|
10 |
14.6 |
10.6 |
16.9 |
12.1 |
4.2 |
2.6 |
|
11 (arts) |
6.5 |
3.5 |
9.2 |
1.9 |
4.7 |
2.6 |
|
11 (science) |
10.9 |
6.6 |
12.1 |
6.2 |
||
|
12 (arts) |
16.8 |
4.1 |
15.8 |
4.7 |
4.2 |
1.3 |
|
12 (science) |
14.8 |
5.6 |
21.5 |
7.1 |
4.6 |
2.0 |
|
Total (grades 10 to 12) |
12.4 |
7.0 |
15.4 |
7.4 |
4.4 |
2.3 |
(e)Teacher per child ratio and number of children per class
Table 38
Number of pupils per teacher in the various classes supervised by the Ministry of Education
|
2002/03 |
2003/04 |
2004/05 |
2005/06 |
|
|
Basic education |
10 |
10 |
10 |
10 |
|
Grades 1 to 6 |
27 |
26 |
24 |
23 |
|
Grades 7 to 9 |
25 |
25 |
25 |
22 |
|
Grades 10 to 12 |
20 |
20 |
19 |
21 |
Table 39
Number of pupils per teacher in each of the different education levelssupervised by the Ministry of Education
|
Type |
Number |
|
Day-care centres |
4 |
|
Children’s centres |
20 |
|
Child development homes |
24 |
9. Please provide disaggregated statistical data (including by sex, age and type of crime) covering the years 2003, 2004 and 2005, in particular on the number of:
(a) Persons under the age of 18 who allegedly committed a crime, reported to the police;
(b) Persons under the age of 18 who were charged with a crime, and of those who were sentenced, and the type of punishment or sanctions related to offences, including length of deprivation of liberty;
(c) Detention facilities for persons under 18 in conflict with the law, and their capacity;
(d) Persons under 18 detained in these facilities, and persons under 18 detained in adult facilities;
(e) Persons under 18 kept in pretrial detention, and the average length of their detention;
(f) Reported cases of abuse and maltreatment of persons under 18 occurred during their arrest and detention; and
(g) Persons under 18 tried and sentenced as adults.
Table 40
Number and type of offences committed by minors and typeand number of offenders in 2003
|
Type of crime |
No. of crimes |
Offenders |
No. of offenders |
|
|
Male |
Female |
|||
|
Theft and attempted theft |
299 |
424 |
1 |
425 |
|
Minor assault |
112 |
161 |
8 |
169 |
|
Attack against honour |
68 |
106 |
3 |
109 |
|
Brawls |
28 |
73 |
0 |
73 |
|
Illegal entry into the country |
65 |
91 |
5 |
96 |
|
Property damage |
28 |
38 |
0 |
38 |
|
Actual or attempted indecent assault |
19 |
29 |
0 |
29 |
|
Fire owing to negligence |
1 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
|
Breaking and entering |
19 |
28 |
2 |
30 |
|
Alcoholism |
10 |
10 |
0 |
10 |
|
Other offences |
4 |
5 |
0 |
5 |
|
Drug-related offences |
4 |
4 |
0 |
4 |
|
Adultery and pregnancy out of wedlock |
8 |
0 |
8 |
8 |
|
Serious assault |
7 |
7 |
0 |
7 |
|
Contempt of a civil servant |
1 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
|
Actual or attempted robbery |
10 |
17 |
0 |
17 |
|
Public indecency |
2 |
2 |
0 |
2 |
|
Intentional homicide |
2 |
3 |
1 |
4 |
|
Forced abduction |
1 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
|
Currency counterfeiting |
1 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
|
Violation of the Oman Passport Act |
1 |
2 |
0 |
2 |
|
Breach of the peace |
3 |
5 |
0 |
5 |
|
Abuse of confidence |
2 |
2 |
0 |
2 |
|
Pronouncing threats |
4 |
4 |
1 |
5 |
|
Fraudulent representation |
1 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
|
Forced detention |
1 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
|
Attempted homicide |
1 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
|
Falsification of documents |
2 |
2 |
0 |
2 |
|
Total |
604 |
1 020 |
29 |
1 049 |
Source: Police of the Sultanate of Oman.
Table 41
Number and type of offences committed by minors and type and number of offenders in 2004
|
Type of offences |
No. of offences |
Offenders |
No. of offenders |
|
|
Male |
Female |
|||
|
Theft and attempted theft |
236 |
374 |
1 |
375 |
|
Minor assault |
120 |
156 |
11 |
167 |
|
Attack against honour |
62 |
95 |
1 |
96 |
|
Brawls |
28 |
64 |
12 |
76 |
|
Illegal entry into the country |
88 |
130 |
12 |
142 |
|
Property damage |
23 |
36 |
2 |
38 |
|
Indecent assault |
23 |
48 |
0 |
48 |
|
Battery resulting in death |
1 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
|
Breaking and entering |
6 |
10 |
0 |
10 |
|
Alcoholism |
6 |
6 |
0 |
6 |
|
Other offences |
7 |
8 |
0 |
8 |
|
Drug-related offences |
3 |
4 |
0 |
4 |
|
Adultery and pregnancy out of wedlock |
5 |
0 |
6 |
6 |
|
Serious assault |
8 |
10 |
0 |
10 |
|
Contempt of a civil servant |
1 |
2 |
0 |
2 |
|
Actual or attempted robbery |
13 |
22 |
0 |
22 |
|
Public indecency |
3 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
|
Arson |
4 |
7 |
0 |
7 |
|
Slander |
1 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
|
Currency counterfeiting |
1 |
2 |
0 |
2 |
|
Assault against a civil servant |
2 |
2 |
0 |
2 |
|
Breach of the peace |
2 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
|
Abuse of confidence |
1 |
8 |
0 |
1 |
|
Pronouncing threats |
5 |
2 |
0 |
8 |
|
Disrespect of an official |
2 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
|
Pickpocketing |
1 |
4 |
0 |
1 |
|
Unintentional homicide |
1 |
1 |
0 |
4 |
|
Falsification of documents |
1 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
|
Violation of the Weapons Act |
1 |
3 |
0 |
1 |
|
Use of uncovered cheques |
1 |
- |
0 |
3 |
|
Total |
656 |
1 012 |
47 |
1 059 |
Source: Police of the Sultanate of Oman.
Table 42
Number and type of offences committed by minorsand type and number of offenders in 2005
Type of offence |
Number of offences |
Offenders |
Number of offenders |
|
|
Male |
Female |
|||
|
Theft and attempted theft |
234 |
352 |
2 |
353 |
|
Minor assault |
100 |
147 |
3 |
150 |
|
Attack against honour |
79 |
131 |
12 |
143 |
|
Brawls |
40 |
103 |
15 |
118 |
|
Illegal entry into the country |
92 |
128 |
5 |
133 |
|
Property damage |
31 |
47 |
3 |
50 |
|
Actual or attempted indecent assault |
22 |
48 |
- |
48 |
|
Fire resulting from negligence |
1 |
2 |
- |
2 |
|
Breaking and entering |
9 |
6 |
5 |
11 |
|
Alcoholism |
5 |
7 |
1 |
8 |
|
Other offences |
15 |
29 |
- |
29 |
|
Drug-related offences |
3 |
3 |
- |
2 |
|
Adultery and pregnancy out of wedlock |
7 |
- |
7 |
7 |
|
Serious assault |
5 |
5 |
- |
5 |
|
Contempt of a civil servant |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Actual or attempted robbery |
13 |
26 |
- |
26 |
|
Public indecency |
1 |
- |
1 |
1 |
|
Premeditated murder |
1 |
- |
1 |
1 |
|
Assault against a civil servant |
1 |
- |
1 |
1 |
|
Arson |
3 |
4 |
2 |
6 |
|
Violation of the Oman Passport Act |
1 |
1 |
- |
1 |
|
Breach of the peace |
2 |
2 |
- |
2 |
|
Abuse of confidence |
7 |
4 |
3 |
7 |
|
Pronouncing threats |
4 |
4 |
- |
4 |
|
Fraudulent representation |
1 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
|
Forced detention |
1 |
1 |
- |
1 |
|
Violation of the Weapons Act |
1 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
|
Falsification of documents |
1 |
- |
1 |
1 |
|
Payment of a ransom |
1 |
1 |
- |
1 |
|
Resisting arrest |
1 |
1 |
- |
1 |
|
Violation of the Foreigners’ Act |
1 |
2 |
- |
2 |
|
Abortion |
1 |
- |
1 |
1 |
|
Adultery |
2 |
- |
2 |
2 |
|
Communication of false information |
1 |
4 |
- |
4 |
|
Sodomy |
2 |
4 |
- |
4 |
|
Impostering |
2 |
4 |
- |
4 |
|
Begging |
1 |
1 |
- |
1 |
|
Attempted homicide |
2 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
|
Total |
684 |
1 068 |
66 |
1 134 |
Source: Police of the Sultanate of Oman.
Table 43
Age of juvenile offenders and number of their offences,by police station, in 2003
|
OffendersPolice station |
Under 9 years |
From 9 to 15 years |
From 15 to 18 years |
Total juvenile offenders |
Total offenders |
Total offences |
||||
|
M |
F |
M |
F |
M |
F |
M |
F |
|||
|
Mascate |
1 |
0 |
62 |
4 |
176 |
6 |
244 |
10 |
254 |
152 |
|
Al-Batinah |
2 |
0 |
57 |
2 |
189 |
5 |
284 |
7 |
255 |
181 |
|
Zuffar |
1 |
0 |
19 |
0 |
101 |
3 |
121 |
3 |
124 |
66 |
|
Al-Dahirah |
0 |
0 |
20 |
2 |
55 |
3 |
75 |
5 |
80 |
52 |
|
Al-Sharqiyyah |
0 |
0 |
47 |
1 |
116 |
2 |
163 |
3 |
166 |
107 |
|
Al-Dajiliyyah |
1 |
0 |
21 |
0 |
63 |
1 |
85 |
1 |
86 |
54 |
|
Musandam |
0 |
0 |
7 |
0 |
66 |
0 |
73 |
0 |
72 |
49 |
|
Al-Wusta |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
9 |
0 |
11 |
0 |
11 |
7 |
|
Total |
5 |
0 |
240 |
9 |
775 |
20 |
1 012 |
29 |
1 049 |
704 |
Table 44
Age of juvenile offenders and number of their offences,by police station, in 2004
|
Offenders Police station |
Under 9 years |
From 9 to 15 years |
From 15 to 18 years |
Total juvenile offenders |
Total offenders |
Total offences |
||||
|
M |
F |
M |
F |
M |
F |
M |
F |
|||
|
Mascate |
0 |
0 |
66 |
3 |
224 |
7 |
290 |
10 |
300 |
181 |
|
Al-Batinah |
3 |
0 |
62 |
5 |
252 |
15 |
352 |
20 |
372 |
245 |
|
Zuffar |
1 |
0 |
14 |
5 |
45 |
7 |
60 |
12 |
72 |
31 |
|
Al-Dahirah |
0 |
0 |
24 |
0 |
53 |
1 |
77 |
1 |
78 |
48 |
|
Al-Sharqiyyah |
3 |
0 |
28 |
0 |
78 |
2 |
109 |
2 |
111 |
69 |
|
Al-Dajiliyyah |
0 |
0 |
25 |
1 |
52 |
1 |
77 |
2 |
79 |
51 |
|
Musandam |
0 |
0 |
7 |
0 |
32 |
0 |
39 |
0 |
29 |
26 |
|
Al-Wusta |
0 |
0 |
3 |
0 |
4 |
0 |
7 |
0 |
7 |
5 |
|
Total |
7 |
0 |
259 |
14 |
745 |
23 |
1 011 |
47 |
1 058 |
256 |
Table 45
Age of juvenile offenders and number of their offences,by police station, in 2005
|
Offenders Police station |
Under 9 years |
From 9 to 15 years |
From 15 to 18 years |
Total juvenile offenders |
Total offenders |
Total offences |
||||
|
M |
F |
M |
F |
M |
F |
M |
F |
|||
|
Mascate |
2 |
1 |
54 |
1 |
196 |
15 |
252 |
17 |
269 |
184 |
|
Al-Batinah |
1 |
0 |
92 |
1 |
252 |
16 |
246 |
17 |
363 |
219 |
|
Zuffar |
2 |
2 |
14 |
2 |
60 |
2 |
76 |
7 |
82 |
41 |
|
Al-Dahirah |
2 |
0 |
19 |
0 |
94 |
5 |
115 |
5 |
120 |
82 |
|
Al-Sharqiyyah |
1 |
0 |
47 |
7 |
74 |
9 |
122 |
16 |
138 |
78 |
|
Al-Dajiliyyah |
2 |
0 |
32 |
1 |
63 |
3 |
97 |
4 |
101 |
49 |
|
Musandam |
0 |
0 |
7 |
0 |
43 |
0 |
50 |
0 |
50 |
22 |
|
Al-Wusta |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
9 |
0 |
10 |
0 |
10 |
8 |
|
Total |
10 |
3 |
267 |
13 |
791 |
50 |
1 086 |
66 |
1 134 |
684 |
Source: Police of the Sultanate of Oman.
B. General measures of implementation
1.The Committee would appreciate receiving specific information on activities intended to implement recommendations contained in the Committee’s previous concluding observations (CRC/C/15/Add.161) on the initial report of Oman (CRC/C/78/Add.1) that have not yet been fully implemented, in particular those related to reservations and legislation (paras. 8-11), non-discrimination (paras. 24-28), the right to a nationality (paras. 33-34), violence against children and child abuse (paras. 35-36), children with disabilities (paras. 41-42) and the administration of juvenile justice (paras. 53-54). Please explain the obstacles to implementation and how the State party envisages overcoming them.Paragraphs 24 to 28 on non-discrimination
The Sultanate of Oman considers that the observations made, especially those in paragraph 24, do not correspond to the legislative provisions, and that there is no justification for implementing a dispensation of the text in question, as it is not at variance with the principles of non-discrimination, especially as the text is aimed at ensuring the best interests of the child, insofar as it maintains the confidentiality of information that can identify the child as being born out of wedlock. It is one thing to certify a fact in a confidential registry, and quite another if such certification gives rise to discrimination, which does not exist in respect of either rights or obligations.
This group of children enjoys a social insurance and protection system that both ensures that they have a life of dignity and provides them with financial stability.
Paragraphs 33 and 34 on the right to a nationality
The child has the right to the nationality of his father;
The difficulty in granting the child the nationality of his or her mother is a legal problem that stems from the non-recognition of dual citizenship in Omani legislation. Therefore, a child born to a non-Omani father acquires the father’s nationality.
Paragraphs 35 and 36 on violence against children and child abuse
Child abuse in Oman is a matter of a few individual cases that are not representative of a general phenomenon. That notwithstanding, the following measures have been taken:
As recommended by the Special Commission, a study was carried out to evaluate the nature and scope of child abuse. The first part of the study concentrated on models of child abuse in Omani society. The second part of the study, which is quantitative, is currently under way.
A special department has been established to provide guidance, advice and information on family matters; it is competent to provide family orientation and awareness services, and is equipped with a telephone hotline, which receives complaints and communications;
A high-level work team has been established to study the question and the implications of child abuse in all its forms.
Paragraphs 41 and 42, children with disabilities
A draft law on the disabled has been drawn up, and the authorities are now reviewing it. It is centred on various themes, including policies and practices related to disabled children. It is hoped that the act will be adopted before the end of this year.
Paragraphs 53 and 54, the administration of juvenile justice
Please see the reply in section 10 for information on the juvenile justice system.
3. Please describe measures undertaken to strengthen data and statistics collection mechanisms and procedures with regard to the implementation of all provisions of the Convention.In 2003, the Ministry of Social Development developed the Omani social indicator database, in keeping with Committee recommendation No. 17 and observation No. 16 issued regarding Oman’s first report. The database covers 15 fields, which are in turn divided into 61 different categories. For each category there is a set of indicators, each of which in turn contains various statistical indices. The development of the database is itself considered a dynamic and continuing process that is based on the introduction of such data periodically and annually, together with the most recent statistical values. At the same time, the scope of the database is being extended to other bodies interested in the indicators, and continuous training is provided to the national supervisory staff responsible for managing the database, as new developments take place in this field.
5. Please provide updated information on the activities of the National Committee for the Follow-up on the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
1.The Committee held two meetings for Omani children from different regions of the country in order to give them the opportunity to express their views and ideas freely and through organized channels, and also to develop their cultural, artistic and perceptive skills. The first event was held under the slogan “Science, happiness and knowledge” in October 2004, and the second under the slogan “What I want to become”, in January 2006.
2.Awareness programmes were held on the Convention on the Rights of the Child; a Tent of the Child was set up during the annual Muscat festival (in 2005 and 2006). In addition, nearly 20,000 copies of brochures and stickers on the Convention were distributed.
3.It also took part in:
(a)A regional practical course on the application of the concluding observations of the Committee on the Rights of the Child, held in Qatar in 2005;
(b)A round of discussions for the Gulf region on how to protect our children against abuse, held in Kuwait in 2005;
(c)A national practical workshop was held in preparation of the “Conference on the Arab Child subject to Various Cultural Influences”, led by gifted and creative children, with the participation of 15 children from various regions of the Sultanate, held in Muscat in 2005;
(d)An “International Conference on the Arab Child subject to Various Cultural Influences”, held in Alexandria, Egypt, in 2005, with the participation of two children from Oman.
4.Information continued to be disseminated on the rights of the child on television and radio and in periodicals.
6. Please provide information on whether a new national plan of action for children has been developed and whether it covers all areas of the Convention and takes into account the objectives and goals of the outcome document entitled “A world fit for children” of the United Nations General Assembly special session on children in 2002.As a complement to the national activities carried out by the various State bodies to provide for conditions ensuring the right of children to survival, a life of dignity and development, and reaffirming the national commitment undertaken in past years under the Arab and international treaties and agreements on children, the Ministry of Social Development, in coordination with the Ministry of the National Economy and UNICEF and with the cooperation of governmental, non-governmental and private bodies, is currently involved in the preparation of a national strategy for the child. The strategy establishes national objectives, programmes and projects in which to work for a comprehensive vision of the principles underpinning a national plan based on coordinated and complementary action. It is hoped that this strategy will be ready for the first quarter of 2007.
In 2005 the Ministry of Health began drawing up a draft strategy for children’s health that is based on the articles of the Convention (relating to the survival, development and protection against all forms of abuse of children and the provisions of the best level of health care for children). It is expected that the strategy will be published in the second half of 2006.
7. Please provide information on the content of, and implementation measures for, the Seventh Five-year Development Plan 2006-2010, particularly those relevant to the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
The “Vision of the Economic Future of Oman 2020” includes strategic objectives applicable during the coming five-year plans. Guided by this vision, the implementation measures of the Seventh Five-year Development Plan 2006-2010 address the need to work to raise and improve the standard of living, in particular by improving the conditions of Omani children and their upbringing, reaffirming the implementation of the articles of the related international conventions such as the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Such articles will be explicitly included in the fundamental orientations and national strategy measures for children.
8. Please provide updated information on the policies and programmes adopted and implemented to promote the respect for the views of the child, children’s participatory rights and their access to information.
1.The learning club on the electronic site of the Ministry of Education is an open window for pupils’ freedom of expression. Any pupil may post his or her proposals and observations and point of view on any question relating to his or her school experience.
2.The “Meeting with Education” television programme:
This is a weekly open discussion programme for pupils. In each broadcast a group of girl and boy pupils discuss an education topic of interest in an open dialogue with the people who deal with such questions both from the Ministry and from other bodies. The programme will begin with the next school year (2006/07).
3.“Teaching Window” supplement
This is a teaching supplement that is published every two weeks by a periodical in Oman. It is above all intended for girl and boy pupils, and provides opportunities for them to express their creativity, show their activities and state their cases. The supplement also informs society and the school environment how pupils work together to form a genuine relationship between school and society.
4.The Annual Meeting of Children of Oman, the aim of which is to allow children to express their points of view and to discuss the programmes and services available to them, expressing ideas and recommendations for the future.
5.In 2004 and 2005, a study was conducted in some 51 schools in the Sultanate to find out about trends and teenagers’ knowledge of the following questions: nutrition models; exercise; violence and abuse; factors providing protection; knowledge about HIV/AIDS. It is hoped that the results will be published in 2006.
9. Please provide information on the ban on the use of child camel jockeys adopted in 2005, the task force for the follow-up on the situation of children in camel races, and the measures taken so far to implement the ban and the results of these measures.
The task force for the follow-up on the situation of child camel jockeys continuously carried out its work in cooperation with the Camel Racing Union to ensure that the established age limits were observed. No violations of the standards were reported.
10. Please provide information on the status of the Juvenile Law bill and the draft Judiciary Organization Law.
The Police of the Sultanate of Oman have drawn up a Juvenile Law bill;
A commission has been established in the old Criminal Tribunal, with the competent bodies as members (Ministry of Social Development and the Police of the Sultanate of Oman), in order to revise the draft law and express its observations on it;
The question has been raised in the Ministry of Legal Affairs;
The draft law has been forwarded to the (translator’s note: Arabic original unclear)of the bodies concerned so that they can send observations as they deem appropriate;
The Ministry of Social Development brought the draft law up in the Council of Ministers after adding its observations;
The draft law is currently being studied by the Council of State and the Consultative Assembly as a preliminary step to its adoption.
12. Please provide updated information on efforts made to provide training on and awareness of the Convention and human rights in general, to children, parents, teachers, religious and community leaders, social workers and other professionals working with and for children.
While referring to the reply to issue 5, we should point out the following:
An expert was invited to hold a practical course on the integration of the articles of the Convention in curricula. Persons responsible for teaching methodologies took part in the course;
A delegation of persons responsible for drawing up curricula visited Lebanon to become acquainted with that country’s experience in incorporating the articles of the Convention at the various levels of study and to take advantage of such experience.
The Directorate General for Study Plans has adopted the following measures as part of its efforts to incorporate the articles of the Convention in school plans:
1.It has carried out an exhaustive study of the articles of the Convention, concentrating on the most essential ones (those considered to be the at the core of the instrument) for each grade, without prejudice to those that have not been ratified by the State.
2.It has carried out a study of the age groups that correspond to each article of the Convention, taking into consideration the following considerations:
(a)The extent to which the pupil can interact to assimilate the content of the article or provision;
(b)The extent to which the pupil can take part in ensuring the success of this learning;
(c)The extent to which the pupil can actively take part in society by bringing this learning to his or her family circle and community;
(d)An article of the Convention that has been incorporated in a school subject is taken and activities are set up in relation with the rest of the instrument’s articles;
(e)The mutually complementary concepts in school subjects and the skills common to the various subjects are studied;
(f)It is determined which concepts correspond to the academic content, and to what extent the articles of the Convention can be included.
13. Please provide updated information on the cooperation between the State party and the national and international communities, including non-governmental organizations, in the efforts to implement the Convention.
In addition to the cooperation programmes mentioned in the replies, there are other fields of cooperation, such as:
(a)At the local level
1.Cooperation between local development committees at the regional level (which include the governors’ offices and government bodies and NGOs dealing with this question) to resolve family cases and on matters related to children’s programmes;
2.Cooperation with private charitable institutions and NGOs in implementation of programmes for children and for the protection of children.
(b)At the regional level
There is cooperation with the Executive Office of the Council of Ministers of Social and Labour Affairs of the Gulf Cooperation Council on joint activities and initiatives held in the context of cooperation in the Arabian Gulf. For example, a “Round of discussions on the problems of fatherless children aimed at encouraging families to take part in adoption programmes and to study ways of integrating them into society” was held in 2004, and in 2005 an “Arabian Gulf round of discussions on the protection of children against abuse” was held.
(c)At the international level
1.There is cooperation with the Directorate General for Family and Children (Department for Childhood) of the League of Arab States for the preparation and revision of the Second Arab Ten-year Plan for Children. In addition, preparations are under way for organizing and holding an Arab Children’s Meeting, scheduled to take place in Muscat in November 2006; it will foster ties of friendship and provide an opportunity for Arab children to meet, and will be held under the slogan “The right of the child to comprehensive health care”. There is also participation in programmes for children.
2.There is cooperation with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) for the preparation of a study on the plan for Education for All (2003‑2015).
3.Cooperation is continuing with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) (Muscat office) and the World Health Organization (WHO) in the implementation of programmes for children, as described in the replies to the Committee’s questions.
14. Please indicate the issues affecting children that the State party considers to be priorities, requiring the most urgent attention with regard to the implementation of the Convention.
1.Minors (definitive revision and adoption of the Act).
2.Smoking among children (as study on the scale of the problem and the drafting of a plan to address it from the legal point of view and in respect of awareness).
PART III
Under this section, the State party is to briefly (3 pages maximum) update the information provided in its report with regard to:
– New bills or enacted legislation;
1.Ministerial Decree No. 58/2006 adopting the post-basic education teaching programme (grades 11 and 12), which provides the pupil with ample choices in this stage of learning which follows basic education, so that each pupil can find what best corresponds to his or her interests and skills.
2.The Executive Regulations for private schools, issued through Ministerial Decree No. 26/2006, and the Executive Regulations for State schools, adopted through Ministerial Decree No. 4/2006, and which contains among its general provisions guidelines on “the importance of providing children with information and developing their capacities in various fields, including self-expression and the expression of their opinions”.
3.The Ministry of Education adopted the “Continuing education system” which replaces the system of exams at the end of the academic year. This system uses evaluation tools including research and written and artistic works, practical tests and test examinations and other such tools that make it possible to confirm that the pupil has assimilated the necessary knowledge. This system takes into account individual differences among pupils and provides attention for those who are outstanding while assisting those who have not reached the required level. It will translate into an improvement of capacity and teaching levels and will help reduce the number of repeated years and dropouts.
4.A system of mandatory registration has been set up of all births and deaths occurring in the Sultanate of Oman.
5.Ministerial Decree No. 271/2006, which establishes the places where minors’ sentences must be served and resolutions relating to the handover of a minor and visiting rights, and the appropriate persons responsible.
New institutions
Recently applied policies
6.Work is under way on a draft regulation on literacy. The draft will among other things make it possible for children who cannot continue their education at school to have an alternative and accessible alternative with which to finish their studies.
7.Work is also under way on a bill to regulate the safety and integrity of school buses to ensure safe transport for schoolchildren.
8.The regulation governing children who require care and attention in families is being amended.
9.The regulation governing the conditions and measures for the establishment of foster homes is being amended.
Recently implemented programmes and projects and their scope
1.The vocational guidance corner in Omani schools. This is a set of information and data provided by the school administration or the education resource centre in schools that have grades 11 and 12, the aim being to assist students to become acquainted with the learning, training and professional opportunities in Oman and in other countries and to help them decide properly about their scientific and personal futures. Such information is also useful to them as it helps them choose their study plans for grades 11 and 12.
2.The “Inyaz Oman” project (Oman Exceeds). This is a group of training courses carried out by a group of people from the private sector who share their experiences and the secret of their success with the pupils, who thus acquire required knowledge and are motivated to join the labour market.
3.Project to fight anaemia in girls’ schools, implemented from grades 7 to 12. This is an awareness programme for girls in grades 7 to 12, consisting of a set of training materials for a group of girls and teachers who later disseminate the material among the rest of the girl pupils.
4.Anti-smoking campaign among schoolchildren from grade 5 to 12. This is a school awareness programme which includes a set of teaching disciplines which provide a group of teachers and students with training that they later impart upon the rest of the students.
5.“Breakfast” project. This project encourages students to take breakfast before coming to school. It also encourages them to take a refreshment to have at school or during recess, or to take a refreshment at the school cooperative.
6.Programme of care for beneficiary children. This programme distributes a free refreshment to pupils with limited means (beneficiaries or those receiving grants) during the school recess on all school days and also provides them with a school uniform at the beginning of each school year. The value of the refreshment is approximately one US dollar.
7.The schools strengthening health project. The concept of “schools strengthening health” is an international concept that is practised in many countries and that basically involves the introduction of a programme for the school and its local community that ensures a favourable health environment for living and for learning. Work began two years ago in 19 schools and will progressively be extended to the rest.
8.A telephone hotline project in the Ministry of Social Development, to help the various sectors of society to overcome social and psychological difficulties, provide support, solve problems and concentrate on children (implementation is imminent).
9.Establishment of a high-level task force to study the phenomenon of child abuse and its different forms and to draw up observations in this respect.
10.The Ministry of Health has adopted the measures necessary to monitor cases of child abuse. It has drawn up a child abuse report form which has been distributed to basic health-care centres. The form asks for information about the type of abuse, be it physical, psychological, related to negligence or abandonment or sexual in nature. It also clearly sets out the measures to be taken if any such cases are encountered in respect of health, psychological or social care and emphasizes the importance of providing continuous follow-up for such cases after release and to inform the competent authorities of them so that they can take the appropriate measures.
11.A parental training guide entitled “Guide to the various forms of child development” has been prepared. It is intended for people who work in primary care of children in their families or communities. The guide provides them with training and the knowledge and skills to allow them to assimilate basic information on their responsibilities with children. Its effectiveness has been tested at various practical courses for persons responsible for children’s programmes, where such persons were asked to evaluate it.
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