Several private schools in the Kingdom will be teaching English along with Arabic and Islamic Studies to Saudi and Arab students in order to prepare students for higher education.

According to school officials, three in 10 students leave school with basic English skills and the rest are tasked with taking English courses in order to be able to continue their higher education abroad.

Al-Baraem Private School in Jeddah has begun offering the American diploma course in an effort to keep up with other international schools.

“The course has been designed to teach English to students from elementary to high school,” said Huda Farooqi, the school’s director. “Moreover, we have appointed teachers who are native or frequent English speakers in the American diploma section so they communicate with students only in English. Our aim is to provide an international education of the highest standard and to facilitate the entry of students into world-class universities across the globe.”

“The language issue has been a major concern for many parents,” she said. “It is important to balance the Arabic and English curricula. Schools should consider Arabic-language classes so students can grasp the fundamentals, but these classes should always be accompanied by English.”

Many other private schools have introduced English courses in their curriculum. The majority of schools have launched this program exclusively for Saudi students.

“This is a much-needed initiative since most international schools do not accept Saudi students,” Omar Abdullah, a student counselor, told Arab News. “It is imperative for Arabic language students to be bilingual in order to make it in today’s world.”

“This initiative from schools should be encouraged by parents and students,” said Hanan Baham, an English teacher. “It is necessary for students to have a basic understanding of English to meet admission requirements for the degrees they want to pursue.”