Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06MUSCAT1098
2006-07-11 13:16:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Muscat
Cable title:  

MOVING FORWARD ON MATH AND SCIENCE COLLABORATION

Tags:  TSPL KGLB PREL SENV MU 
pdf how-to read a cable
null
Patrick X Disney 07/12/2006 08:14:27 AM From DB/Inbox: Patrick X 
Disney

Cable 
Text: 
 
 
UNCLAS MUSCAT 01098

SIPDIS
MUSCATCX:
 ACTION: POLE
 INFO: PAO POLM OMC DAO DCM AMB

DISSEMINATION: POLE
CHARGE: PROG

APPROVED: AMB:GGRAPPO
DRAFTED: POLE:BMGRIMM
CLEARED: POLE: MSNOWDEN

VZCZCATI150
RR RUEHC RUEHZM RUEHAM
DE RUEHMS #1098 1921316
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 111316Z JUL 06
FM AMEMBASSY MUSCAT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 6884
INFO RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE
RUEHAM/AMEMBASSY AMMAN 0424
UNCLAS MUSCAT 001098 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR OES/SAT FECHAVARRIA; OES/PCI MTOKMAN; NEA/ARP
AMMAN FOR JWHITTLESEY

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: TSPL KGLB PREL SENV MU
SUBJECT: MOVING FORWARD ON MATH AND SCIENCE COLLABORATION

REF: A. ECHAVARRIA-GRIMM TELCON OF 6/19/06

B. TOKMAN-GRIMM EMAIL OF 3/23/06

UNCLAS MUSCAT 001098

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR OES/SAT FECHAVARRIA; OES/PCI MTOKMAN; NEA/ARP
AMMAN FOR JWHITTLESEY

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: TSPL KGLB PREL SENV MU
SUBJECT: MOVING FORWARD ON MATH AND SCIENCE COLLABORATION

REF: A. ECHAVARRIA-GRIMM TELCON OF 6/19/06

B. TOKMAN-GRIMM EMAIL OF 3/23/06


1. This is an action request for OES. Please see paragraph 4.


2. On July 11, Econoff delivered ref A reply to Dr. Sana
Sabeel Sulaiman al-Belushi, Director of the Technical Office
for Studies and Development, Ministry of Education (MOE).
Econoff noted that after careful review of the comments made
by the Ministry, the USG could not accept their suggestions,
given that the GLOBE Agreement was a standard legal document
that has been accepted by over 100 global partners.
Al-Belushi understood the USG position and would speak with
her colleagues at the Ministry of Legal Affairs and Royal
Oman Police-Customs to ascertain whether either organization
would be able to reconsider its position.


3. Econoff also inquired about MOE's interest in
participating in a USG-sponsored collaborative effort
regarding the mathematics and science curriculum with
Jordanian company Rubicon (ref B). Al-Belushi expressed
interest in the proposal, but needed further information
before she could raise it with the Education Minister.
Specifically, al-Belushi requested further explanation on
what equipment would be involved with this project, whether
the instruction would be in Arabic or English, what grade
level would the pilot project include, whether a contract
would be involved, whether the Ministry would primarily be
working with the Jordanian company or with the USG, whether a
DSL line was necessary, and when the anticipated start date
of the project would be. Al-Belushi also raised financial
considerations, noting that the Ministry worked on a
five-year plan. She inquired whether a cost estimate would
be available for a system that has over 500,000 students
dispersed through 1,046 schools, and whether corporate
sponsorship would be possible.


4. Action request: Embassy requests OES to provide responses
to the questions raised by MOE in paragraph 3.


5. Comment. On the GLOBE program, the Embassy is not certain
that MOE will be able to convince the Ministry of Legal
Affairs and ROP-Customs to drop their concerns regarding the
proposed agreement. On the Rubicon proposal, while the
Ministry is interested in learning more about the mechanisms
of the project, it remains concerned about long-term funding
of the program should the MOE wish to implement it
system-wide beyond the pilot stage.
GRAPPO