RARE PUBLIC PROTEST BY TEACHERS, GRADUATES

C O N F I D E N T I A L MUSCAT 000851

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR NEA/ARP (S. STEINGER),DRL (J. DEMARIA)

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/31/2016
TAGS: PHUM SOCI PGOV ELAB PINS MU
SUBJECT: RARE PUBLIC PROTEST BY TEACHERS, GRADUATES

Classified By: Ambassador Gary A. Grappo. Reason: 1.4 (d).


1. (SBU) In a rare protest on May 28, approximately 200
teachers and graduates from government-operated Colleges of
Education (CoE) gathered in front of the Ministry of
Education (MoE) and demanded to speak with the minister,
Yahya bin Saud al-Salimi, about diminishing promotions for
teachers and the lack of jobs for CoE graduates.


2. (SBU) Unaware of the minister's absence that day,
protesters reportedly attempted to break into the Ministry.
Four Royal Oman Police vehicles arrived on the scene to
disperse the protesters. Contacts informed PolOff that some
demonstrators told police they were protesting because they
have "nothing to lose." Although the police took some
protesters briefly into custody for questioning, no violent
incidents were reported.


3. (C) Comment: Public protests in Oman are rare. Protests
by teachers, although rare, generally generate public
sympathy because of the arcane and rigid employment and
promotion system for MoE teachers and College of Education
graduates. Despite the minister's efforts to modernize the
education system, the increasing number of graduates and
diminishing job opportunities will continue to generate
discontent.
GRAPPO