Page 6 - Issue 20, April 2023 Online

Fatma A’zahraa: What is your favorite
childhood memory in school?
Prof. Amer: I remember we had very
good teachers, actually, from outside
Oman – from Egypt, Jordan and Sudan.
We were really fortunate to have them.
Alhamdulillah, the ministry got us the
best teachers. We learned a lot from
them. Before that, in the early 70s,
we had some Omani teachers. What I
recall from those memories is that they
showed us how to pray. They came to
the class and showed us practically how
to pray according to the Sunnah. It was
a new experience. It was something
practical that students could see and
remember. So, that’s one of the things
that live in my memory.
I also remember the time my mind
shifted to shine in my studies when I
was in 5th grade. My rank at that time
was 13 in my class. However, I made
up my mind to excel and be among the
top students. Alhamdulillah, since then,
I was always one of the top students in
my class.
Two years before we graduated,
the Ministry of Education used to
5 FP Chronicle Issue 20, April 23
reward toppers by sending them
on a trip outside Oman, and I was
fortunate to be chosen with 2 more
Dhofaris, alongside students from
other regions; to go to Tunisia. It was
during Ramadan, and it was my first
experience travelling outside Oman.
Alhamdulillah, they were very good
memories. I enjoyed them, and I think
they provided us with a good education
that helped us in our university courses.
Moamen: Were there any
disappointments that you experienced
as a university student?
Prof. Amer: As a university student,
Alhamdulillah, I studied in the United
States at the University of the Pacific
in California. It is a private university
with a small number of students; at that
time, there were around 5000 students.
The Ministry of Education chose the
university for us, and we were the first
Omanis to study at that university.
We were 5 students – the highest
achievers in all of the Sultanate were
with us. The university provided good
education, but my disappointment was