MUSCAT – During the State Visit of His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik to the United Kingdom, the Ministry of Education of the Sultanate of Oman and the British Council signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) to collaborate on AI-enabled English learning in schools.
Signed by Her Excellency Dr Madiha bint Ahmed bin Nasser Al Shibaniyah, Minister of Education, and Scott McDonald, Chief Executive of the British Council, at Lancaster House, the LoI establishes a framework for cooperation on the responsible use of artificial intelligence in English language education.
Under the proposed collaboration, the Ministry of Education and the British Council will co-design and pilot AI-enabled English learning in a selected group of secondary schools. The pilot will explore how AI can support the development of students’ English speaking and writing skills, strengthen their employability and improve their readiness for English-medium higher education. Aligned with the Omani curriculum, the initiative will also focus on building teachers’ capacity to use AI-supported learning safely and effectively. The pilot will generate evidence to inform future development and support Oman’s wider education ambitions under Oman Vision 2040.
Scott McDonald, Chief Executive of the British Council, said: “Education is central to the long-standing partnership between Oman and the United Kingdom. Through this collaboration with the Ministry of Education, we will explore how artificial intelligence can be used responsibly to strengthen English language learning, support teachers and help young people develop the skills they need for further education and employment. We look forward to working together to build evidence of what works and inform future approaches to learning in Oman.”
The LoI builds on the British Council’s long-standing work with Omani institutions and its collaboration with the British Embassy Muscat to strengthen education links between Oman and the United Kingdom.
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