Examining the implementation of early years curricula in Oman (for children aged 3-6): Experiences and perspectives of preschool teachers

The main goal of this project is to investigate how preschool teachers in Oman design their early years curriculum and how teachers? experiences and perspectives affect their curriculum design. In Omani preschools, there is not a unified early years curriculum. Schools might use curricula that was designed for European or Americans preschools (with the approval of the ministry of Social Affairs). Each preschool in Oman might use a different program to design classroom activities or teachers might structure classroom activities based on their teaching experiences. This makes an important case for investigating how and which programs preschool teachers implement in Omani schools. To support children?s learning and development, teachers need to have a curriculum, program or a set of standards, which defines goals, aims and objectives of classroom activities. Therefore, a curriculum is of great importance for early childhood education. Early years curricula are mainly based on distinctive traditions, cultures and research with young children (Samuelsson, 2006). The implementation of a curriculum into a new culture means the introduction of new ideas and beliefs, which may not be fully fit to the new culture (Aljabreen, 2020). Adaption of a curriculum and implementation of new curricula are important for our teachers, schools and country to progress as our definitions of education and capabilities of children changes with new developments in technology (Aljabreen, 2020). Almost every culture and community require an analysis of new ideas on which curriculum is based when a new curriculum is applied a school or region (Aljabreen, 2020). For example, in Omani society learning mathematics and Islamic studies can be valued and supported by families and teachers, whereas learning art can be valued in Sweden preschool settings. Therefore, it is very crucial to understand what kind of curriculum is implemented in Omani preschools.