SOHAR : Oman began the second phase of a national programme to identify talented students in North Al Batinah on Sunday, assessing 266 sixth-grade pupils from 40 schools across the governorate, Oman News Agency reported.

The initiative, part of the fifth edition of the National Programme for Identifying Talented Students, known as “Tharwa 5”, aims to identify exceptional abilities and provide specialised educational support.

Students will undergo standardised assessments measuring intelligence and creative thinking to identify their individual strengths, skills and learning needs. The results will help guide enrichment programmes and support the development of their talents.

The programme also seeks to establish a comprehensive national database documenting gifted students’ abilities, talents and achievements, allowing educators to track their progress and provide support throughout their education.

It includes training specialised national teams in identifying and supporting gifted students using established scientific and educational methods.

The initiative focuses on developing higher-order thinking skills, including originality, flexibility, the ability to generate ideas, in-depth thinking and creative problem-solving. It also gives particular attention to science and emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence and programming.

The programme forms part of the education ministry’s efforts to develop students’ talents and direct their abilities towards priority fields, supporting Oman’s broader ambitions to build an economy and society driven by knowledge and innovation.

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