LVE has been quietly growing in Oman, a land with a long tradition of upholding values.  

A workshop on values-based education was held at Nizwa University Oman on 3 October 2011. A group of newly trained school teachers enjoyed a day of interactive creative activities, coordinated by Ms Laila Al Gharbi, a recent graduate teacher from Nizwa University. The workshop began with a reflection on our personal and social values. The group then visualised ‘The school of my dreams’ from which a lively discussion developed on how to create a values-based learning environment where children/students (and teachers!) feel happy, peaceful and motivated.

All agreed that every child needs to be loved, valued, respected, understood and to feel safe. In small groups, the teachers created a symbol to represent one of 'the five needs of the child'. They then discussed the skills and qualities of the teacher that are required to meet these needs. The long list included: Caring, Well-prepared, Dynamic, Entertaining, Cooperative, Accepting, Intuitive....

At the end of the day, all agreed that they felt ready to start their new teaching assignments with enthusiasm and confidence, and with lots of new creative ideas for integrating values into their daily activities.