The Role of Art Education in Responding to Social Issues: The Case of Road Accidents in Oman

In Oman, the issue of road accident has become of greater concern for individual members of society as well as for the government. In responding to these concerns, art education can play a significant role in this matter. On this basis, this research project assumes that student art practice can improve understanding of social issues, which, in turn, can improve quality of life. The purpose of this study was to personalize this social issue in relation to the social and cultural issue of road accidents from students own experiences and to give them the opportunity to express their feelings, beliefs, and thoughts on the issue in visual forms. 15 paintings were produced by students and described and interbred in relation to the reasons for, facts about, and consequencesa of road accidents. The results demonstrate the students‟ perspectives on the causes and consequences of road accidents in Oman as expressed in the art form of painting. Causes of accidents such as lack of concentration, speeding, use of mobile phones, and driving without wearing seatbelts were depicted in the students' artworks.