English abstract
The main objective of this study was providing a proposal to apply for licensing to practice teaching in the Sultanate of Oman. It also identified the experiences of some selected countries in this area. Moreover, it examined the effects of some demographic variables (job title, gender, educational qualification, and the years of working experience in education) on the licensing criteria for either new or on the job teachers, and the most important requirements and procedures necessary to implement these criteria.
The descriptive approach was used to analyze the literature. To achieve the objectives of the study, a questionnaire of (64) items was developed. It was classified into three domains: the criteria for licensing of new teachers, the criteria for licensing of teachers who are currently employed, and procedures for licensing and renewal of license to practice the teaching profession. The sample of the study consisted of (280) administrators and educational supervisors selected from the Ministry of Education head office, six provinces and educational regions, namely: (Muscat, Dhofar, Buraimi, Al Batinah North, Sharqiya North, Interior, and Dhahira). The statistical data were analyzed by using SPSS package.
The results indicated that there was a high degree of consent among the respondents in all the three domains of the study. The highest favorable score of the results was given to the licensing criteria for new teachers, followed by the licensing criteria for the teachers who are currently working and the lowest score was given to the requirements and procedures for licensing and the renewal of license to practice the teaching profession.
The results also indicated that there were significant differences among the respondents attributable to: job title variable in favor of the administrators in the area of licensing criteria for new teachers, and changing qualifications in favor of High Education Diploma holders, in the area of licensing criteria for new teachers and the requirements and procedures for licensing and renewal of license. The study findings also showed significant differences in licensing criteria for teachers who are currently employed attributed to gender in favor of females.
Finally the results showed significant differences in the area of licensing criteria for new teachers attributed to the number of years of experience in favor of those with more than ten years of experience. Based on the literature and the results of the survey a proposal for implement issuing license to practice Teaching profession in the Sultanate of Oman was developed. The suggested proposal highlights an anticipated set of difficulties in the implementation, and ways of overcoming them. Further, studies on issuing license for teachers are also suggested.
