The English curriculum of the Ministry of Education contains factual mistakes and does not follow a gradual teaching method, according to English language teaching experts.

They also said students in Saudi schools start learning the English language at a relatively late age.

“English language classes for fourth grade public school students will be formalized within two years and rolled out to all of the Kingdom’s schools,” said Naif Al-Roumi, undersecretary for Development and Planning at the Ministry of Education. Fourth grade students are 10 to 11 years old.

“Previously, students began learning English in the fifth grade. After much criticism, the Ministry of Education launched a pilot program to introduce the English language classes a year earlier. A total of 4,182 boys and girls took part in the pilot program this past academic year,” Al-Roumi said.

“I cannot understand why the ministry is not keen to develop the English curriculum in schools. The students should start learning basics of the English language in the primary stage,” said Othman Saied, English teacher at a private school.

“I have discovered some mistakes in English textbooks. The pictures do not match the vocabulary. Many English teachers use various ways to develop the English skills of students without depending on English curriculum books,” Othman added.

“It is easy for children to learn the English language. It is hard to teach English to students who are 12 years or older and do not know anything about the language. English textbooks that Saudi schools use, are for a mixed audience between the primary and secondary level. For instance, the first lesson of the ministry’s English curriculum focuses on the alphabet. In the third or fourth lesson you will find some difficult vocabulary and tough grammar, while students still cannot read, or spell or understand the grammar,” said Mustafa Abdul Nabi, a teacher at an English language institute.

Many secondary school students are still studying the basics of English language, like the alphabet. Another many students, who can speak and write in English, are forced to start with the basics of the English language in Saudi schools.

“A secondary school student should learn advanced skills, such as writing and conversation. Expatriate English teachers know how they can develop English language skills in their students outside the English curriculum of the Ministry of Education,” Mustafa added.

Many parents in Saudi Arabia choose to pay an extra amount of money and send their children to English institutes so they will not have to depend on the English curriculum in Saudi schools. “Saudi schools are not equipped to develop the foreign language skills of my children. We have to turn to English institutes instead.”