Background:

The Ministry of Technology and Communications was set up by Royal Decree No. 63/2019. MTC is responsible for implementing the national IT infrastructure projects and supervising all the projects related to implementing Digital Oman Strategy while providing professional leadership to various other e-Governance initiatives of the Sultanate.

MTC works with a vision to transform the Sultanate of Oman into a sustainable Knowledge Society by leveraging Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) to enhance government services, enrich businesses and empower individuals.

National IT Training & Awareness Framework Initiative (NITTA)

The National IT Training & Awareness Framework Initiative (NITTA) is MTC’s nation-wide e.oman initiative aimed at developing ICT skills capability and increasing ICT awareness within the government and the community. Additionally, the Initiative aims to provide ICT training opportunities to the citizens of Oman in order for them to fully participate in a digital, knowledge-based society. In achieving its goals, the Initiative will also contribute to Oman’s transformation to a digital society, to the development of a local ICT industry and in creating employment opportunities for the youth of Oman.

NITTA has given rise to a number of key projects and initiatives:

1. Government IT Training & Certification (GITTC)
The Government IT Training and Certification (GITC) is one of the projects under NITTA. It aims to provide internationally recognized digital literacy certification to all civil service employees.

Project Benefits

•  Improves the skills and performance of civil servants
• Empowers civil servants under the Ministry of Civil Services with ICT knowledge and skills to enable delivery of public sector eServices
• Gives an equal chance of training for all civil servants

2. Community IT Training Project (CITT)
The CITT project, regarded as a fundamental part of the NITTA framework, aims at activating sustainable learning at all levels of Omani society, as well as enhancing citizens’ abilities and skills in handling modern digital technology and interacting with eServices. CITT aims to deliver IT literacy training programs to the community through Community Knowledge Centers (CKC), which have been established throughout the Sultanate.

CKCs provide a venue to enable the provision of free cost education in computer and internet basics, in an effort to reduce computer illiteracy and bridge the digital divide. CKCs also aim to help and assist people to expand their access to information, improve productivity, enhance quality of life, and enrich culture and tradition by enhancing communication and interaction.

3. Specialized IT Training Courses
This program focuses on providing specialized IT training courses and granting opportunities to obtain specialized certificates, with a view to increasing the number of holders of specialized certificates in the different fields of information technology. The program contributes to meeting the current needs for the ICT industry in the public and private sectors, as well as satisfying future needs so as to enhance the growth of the local ICT sector.