Muscat: The Ministry of Labour, represented by the Directorate General of Vocational Colleges, announced the opening of registration for 1,195 training programs for the academic year 2026/2027. These programs are distributed across seven branches of vocational colleges in the wilayats of A'Seeb, Saham, Sur, Ibri, Shinas, Al Buraimi, and Salalah, running until the 19th of this month.
According to Oman News Agency, Dr. Shafiq Darwish Al Abri, Director of the Department of Student Affairs and Vocational Partnerships, emphasized that opening registration for vocational efficiency programs is in line with the Ministry of Labor's goal of providing vocational training pathways. These pathways are designed to empower job seekers holding Tenth and Eleventh Grade certificates by equipping them with practical and specialized skills, thus enhancing their readiness to transition into the labor market through a structured training path.
Dr. Al Abri explained that vocational efficiency programs offer a combination of applied knowledge and professional practice. These programs provide a wide range of technical and vocational specializations across various fields, offering trainees options aligned with their interests and abilities. This approach enables them to build a professional foundation that can be further developed through various training stages.
The list of programs includes diverse vocational fields such as welding and metal fabrication, maintenance and repair of refrigeration and air conditioning units, light vehicle repair and maintenance, furniture carpentry, operational mechanics, painting and decoration, auto body repair and painting, electrical and water plumbing extensions, maintenance of electronic devices, food manufacturing techniques, and cosmetology and hairdressing for females. These fields provide multiple training paths for job seekers seeking specialized vocational skills.
Capacity distribution indicators highlight a focus on certain technical specializations, with five main areas accounting for about 74.6 percent of the total capacity. Leading the list is welding and metal fabrication with a capacity of 260 trainees, followed by refrigeration and air conditioning maintenance and repair with 202 trainees, light vehicle repair and maintenance with 155 trainees, furniture carpentry with 145 trainees, and operational mechanics with 130 trainees.
Dr. Al Abri pointed out that the A'Seeb branch has the highest capacity, accommodating 270 trainees, reflecting the variety of programs available there. The remaining capacity is distributed across other vocational branches based on the nature of programs and specializations offered by each college.
He further stated that the core value of vocational efficiency programs lies in imparting basic skills to trainees and providing them with a progressive training path. Trainees receive the Vocational Efficiency Certificate (1) at a limited-skill level in the first academic year and can proceed to the second academic year to obtain the Vocational Efficiency Certificate (2) at a skilled level. Additionally, trainees receive a monthly financial allowance throughout the training period.
Dr. Al Abri urged job seekers who meet the admission requirements to take advantage of the registration period, explore available programs, and choose specializations that align with their capabilities and interests. He emphasized that investing in vocational skills is a key pathway to empowering youth and preparing them for future career opportunities.