Education Minister Azzam Al-Dakhil inaugurated on Wednesday the first International Standardized Arabic Test at the E-learning University’s headquarters here.

The historic initiative would enhance the position of Arabic through 5,000 centers around the world along with the global standardized tests, according to Al-Dakhil.

The ceremony was hosted by the university in the presence of Rector Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz Al-Mousa.

The minister underlined the efforts of the Saudi university in implementing such a program. Describing it as a quantum leap in the field of Arabic language, he attributed the success to Saudi Arabia’s role in promoting Arabian sciences to non-native speakers in the world.

“I am proud to be in the Virtual University, which has sought to implement this program in the birthplace of Islam and the land of the lingua franca,” the minister said in his address.

According to Al-Dakhil, what distinguishes this high-caliber initiative is the access it provides to the international community enabling those interested to take the Arabic language test from anywhere without difficulty. He also underlined the importance of e-learning, and new technologies that have contributed to strengthening its role in education. He noted that today’s youths are well aware of this method more than other techniques, and exhorted them to take advantage of the facility.