Sohar Aluminum and the General Directorate of Education for North Al Batinah Governorate recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to support educational projects for the schools of North Al Batinah Governorate at a total cost of 400,000 Omani Rial. The agreement was signed in the presence of H.E. Saud bin Salem Al Balushi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Education for Educational Planning and Human Resources Development. It was signed on behalf of the company by Mr Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Nasser Al Kharusi, General Manager of Human Resources and Corporate Affairs, and on behalf of the General Directorate of Education for North Al Batinah Governorate by Dr Ali Bin Nasser Al Harrasi, the Director-General.

Commenting on the Signing Ceremony, Ahmed Al Kharusi stated that the project will be implemented in phases over five years and will include supporting all schools in North Batinah province with technical equipment and tools used in the educational process at the rate of 40 schools each year. The benefited schools will be selected on a yearly basis through a coordinated process between the company and the Directorate General based on pre-set and agreed upon criteria that includes the numbers of students in each school, the school building, among others. The supervision of the installation and equipping process will also be aligned between the parties.

Al Kharusi said: "This support is a continuation of the initiatives and continued support of the company to the education sector in the Governorate, and this agreement is more holistic as it includes all the schools in the Governorate. We hope that this initiative will play a positive role in motivating and encouraging students to excel and succeed in all fields and using modern and innovative techniques."

Dr Ali bin Nasser Al-Harrasi, Director General of Education in Northern Batinah stated the importance of this agreement to the educational sector in the governorate through the implementation of technical education projects. The agreement will help in keeping with the rapid development witnessed by the world. It will be a new addition to the schools in the Governorate to meet their needs as well as positively impact the level of the students’ achievement by developing their skills through the use of technology. Al Harrasi also thanked Sohar Aluminum for its support and funding for these projects.

Ali Bin Hassan Al Balushi, Headmaster of the Imam Ahmad Bin Saeed School in Sohar, said that the agreement, with its support for the implementation of technical projects in the governorate schools, is undoubtedly a new addition that serves the student and helps the teacher to deliver and teach the subjects using modern educational methods. The projects will also contribute to keeping pace with the teacher and learner of technology in the classroom and the implementation of school activities and many more. This will be reflected positively on the outputs of the educational process, whether in the results of academic achievements or the results of competitions and extra-curricular activities.

Ever since its inception, Sohar Aluminum has always focused on maximizing its positive impact on the surrounding communities through sustainable initiatives and projects. The company allocates an annual budget to support the education sector as well as other service sectors in accordance with a clear vision to contribute to social development.

Sohar Aluminium was formed in September 2004 to undertake a landmark Greenfield aluminium smelter project in the Sultanate of Oman. It is jointly owned by Oman Oil Company, Abu Dhabi National Energy Company PJSC - TAQA and Rio Tinto.