Tenth-grade Female Students' Attitudes towards Business and Technology Education Council (BTEC) Program Pathways in Oman
Year: 2026
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: The Business and Technology Education Council (BTEC) program has recently been introduced into secondary education in the Sultanate of Oman as an alternative educational pathway designed to help students develop their skills, realize their potential, and prepare for future career opportunities. This study aimed to examine the attitudes of tenth-grade female students toward BTEC Program Pathways in the Wilayat of Al Suwaiq, Sultanate of Oman. A descriptive correlational research design was employed, and data were collected using a structured questionnaire administered to a sample of 382 students. The instrument's validity and reliability were established prior to data collection. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS, including descriptive statistics, Pearson's correlation coefficient, and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). The findings indicated that students' overall attitudes toward the BTEC Program Pathways were relatively low (M = 2.50, SD = 0.49). A statistically significant weak-to-moderate negative correlation was found between students' attitudes and their English achievement (r = ?.27, p < .001). Furthermore, no statistically significant differences in students' attitudes were found based on parental income, F(3, 378) = 1.044, p = .373, or guardians' educational level, F(3, 378) = 0.424, p = .736. These findings suggest that demographic characteristics had limited influence on students' perceptions of the BTEC Program Pathways within the study context. The study recommends increasing awareness of vocational education through targeted school and community initiatives and providing students with up-to-date information about BTEC pathways and evolving labor market opportunities. Received: 05 July 2026 / Accepted: 19 October 2026 / Published: November 2026
Institution: University of Nizwa
Language: English
Subfield: Education
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
SDG: Quality education
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W7225320214