Observer Report
Muscat
Educators and academics in Oman have praised the long-term vision of the late His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said bin Taimour, and are confident that the current Sultan, His Majesty Haitham bin Tarik, will continue the efforts established by his predecessor.
In his Royal Speech, which was delivered shortly after ascending the throne of Oman and being confirmed as Sultan, HM Haitham bin Tarik said of the late HM Sultan Qaboos, and his contribution towards education, ‘He built a sturdy and constant frameworks for education – at all its levels – and specialisations that are tapped by generations of citizens who relished knowledge and expertise.’
Professor Taha Al Lawati, who works at the Royal Hospital as a senior consultant breast oncoplastic surgeon, added, ‘I am an example of the emphasis on education that was made one of the priorities by the late His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said bin Taimour.
‘I started my education from Al Saidiya School in Oman then finished my high school at Jaber bin Zaid School and went all the way to Europe for my basic medical training, and then with the Oman Medical Specialty Board for the basic surgical training then to Europe again for fellowships from France and the Royal College of Surgeons to attain my Ph.D from one of the reputable universities there,’ added Al Lawati.
‘The journey did not end after receiving the highest degree of qualification, but it continued with me while representing Oman internationally as a visiting professor at the University of Peloponnese in Greece, and being the Executive President of the European Asian Society of Surgical Oncology based in Switzerland,’ he added.
‘All this was only possible because of the wise vision laid by the late HM Sultan Qaboos. He was the one who guided and paved this path for us for which we will be grateful for life.’
Dr Said Al Sawafi, a co-professor at the Department of Islamic Sciences at Sultan Qaboos University said, ‘We hope that His Majesty Haitham bin Tarik continues to follow the lines drawn by the late Sultan Qaboos, with modernisation, development, and attention to the economy.
