Riyadh: Saudi has announced that it will teach the English language from the first grade onwards, starting the next academic year.
Five courses have been approved for the next academic year, including a focus on science and mathematics, education minister Hamad bin Mohammed Al-Asheikh told state-run Al-Ekhbariya TV’s Al-Raasd program in an interview.
“There will be some changes that aim to benefit students and the future citizen to become a graduate of education and qualified to compete on an international level,” Al-Asheikh said.
Four of the courses will be introduced to all schools, but he said the fifth would only be implemented in the major schools distributed throughout the Kingdom.
“The general education stage is an important stage and we cannot improve higher education without improving secondary education, and this will happen in 2021,” the minister said.
The minister added there would be certain subjects that would be taught remotely, and distance education would continue even after the coronavirus pandemic.