RIYADH, 19 April — The British Council is collaborating with the Ministry of Education in developing a curricular program for English language courses for elementary schools from Grade IV.
“We are hoping that major portions of what is adopted will be based on the British educational material. But eventually it will be a Saudi product tailored to the needs of the Kingdom’s cultural and Islamic values,” Dr. David Burton, director of the British Council (Saudi Arabia), told Arab News.
Burton said that as part of this ambitious program some 30 to 40 officials from the ministry and schools will leave for the UK to participate in a summer program under its first phase, “Training the Trainer.”
These trainers will in turn assist Saudis aspiring for a career in English teaching.
Currently, English is taught from the seventh grade, as there is a shortage of teachers for implementing the government’s move to introduce English at the elementary level.
Dr. Burton said two specialists from the ministry are already in the UK attending a British Council international seminar on English teaching for young learners. They are also discussing the contents of two intensive courses to be held in Leeds and York. These educational supervisors will be responsible for introducing English to young Saudis in different parts of the Kingdom.
Referring to the merger of the Presidency of Girls’ Education with the Education Ministry, the director said one of the challenges facing the ministry is the development of a single integrated system for boys’ and girls’ education. “Of course, the educational material will be the same, but there will be minor differences to suit the requirements of girls.”
Dr. Burton said he held discussions with senior officials of the Deputy Ministry of Girls’ Education on this subject.
Asked about the impact of Sept. 11 on the level of enrollment for English language and other courses in Britain’s educational institutions, Dr. Burton said the enrollment had surged by over 200 percent. He, however, discounted the suggestion that this had anything to do with the 9/11 events.
“Of course, there was a sharp increase in enrollment, but not necessarily due to the aftermath of Sept. 11. People of the UK are generally more knowledgeable about the Middle East. The advisory, placement and counseling services of the British Council had also been streamlined in the meantime. So this was the cumulative result of those efforts.”
He added that the results of the financial year October 2001- March 2002 would be announced in two weeks.
Dr. Burton said that besides the integration of the educational system for boys and girls, another challenge confronting the ministry was how to provide enough educational opportunities for high school leavers.
“Not everybody can afford to send their children abroad to the US or the UK or whatever. The licensing of private colleges and universities by the Ministry of Higher Education and the tie-up of those colleges with British and American institutions could go a long way in addressing their needs,” he added.
