BURAIDAH, 7 August 2007 — In an experimental project, the Ministry of Education is to introduce the teaching of English to fourth grade students in eight primary schools in Buraidah. Presently, Saudi public schools begin teaching English in the sixth grade.
Ibrahim ibn Saleh Al-Khudhairy, head of the English Department at the General Directorate of Education in Qasim, told Arab News that a new curriculum had been prepared by Al-Saawy Book Center, a local educational institute, and the Oxford University Press.
The Ministry of Education has agreed to run the project on a trial basis before possible introduction to primary stage classes in all Saudi schools. Fourth grade primary pupils will learn English in these eight schools from the beginning of the next academic year, said Al-Khudairy.
He said the assigned primary schools include Palestine School, Ohud School, Prince Sultan Educational Complex, King Fahd School, Al-Yamamah School, Tareq ibn Ziyad School, Al-Qairawan School and Muad ibn Jabal School.
“We have asked these schools to devote two classes a week for English in their educational plan during the coming year, which is expected to start on Sept. 8,” Al-Khudairy said. “Al-Saawy Book Center, a national company, will hold training sessions to prepare teachers at the eight schools to teach the new curriculum,” he added.
“We have suggested a number of topics to be included in the training program and these include effective early language instruction for elementary students, creative activities, effective teaching methods and appropriate use of technology,” he said.
Introducing English in Saudi primary schools has always been a controversial issue with some preferring to introduce the language as early as the first grade, while others believe it is better to introduce it at the intermediate stage.
The Ministry of Education made a contract five years ago with the Macmillan Publishing Company through its local agent to design a new book for the fourth elementary grade.
After the book was prepared and made available, the entire project was brought to a halt when the Council of Ministers decided to scuttle the English language-teaching program.
Although the Cabinet decided to postpone the introduction of English in elementary schools, it later agreed to start teaching the language from the sixth elementary grade onward.
