RIYADH: Saudi Arabia will teach the English language from first grade of primary school starting from the next academic year, the education minister said on Sunday.
Speaking during an interview with state-run Al-Ekhbariya TV’s Al-Raasd program, Hamad bin Mohammed Al-Asheikh, said that five courses have been approved for the next academic year, including a focus on science and mathematics.
The minister also said that digital education would begin from the fourth year.
“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 will continue even after the coronavirus pandemic.
Saudi Arabia to introduce English language from first grade of primary school starting next academic year
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Saudi Arabia to introduce English language from first grade of primary school starting next academic year
- The Ministry of Education says there will also be a focus on science and mathematics
- Digital education will begin from the fourth year
Saudi Arabia welcomes ceasefire agreement between Syrian Democratic Forces and Syria state
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has welcomed an agreement between the Syrian state and Syrian Democratic Forces.
In a foreign ministry statement early on Monday, the Kingdom said it had welcomed an deal between Damascus and Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces that was announced by the Syrian government on Sunday.
The agreement entails merging all SDF forces into the defense and interior ministries and means that Kurdish forces will redeploy to east of the Euphrates river.
The 14-point deal would also see the immediate administrative and military handover of Deir Ezzor and Raqqa governorates.
The Syrian state would regain control of all border crossings, oil fields, and gas fields in the region, with protection secured by regular forces to ensure the return of resources to the Syrian government, while considering the special case of Kurdish areas, the state news agency SANA reported.
The ceasefire comes after intense fighting between the SDF and government troops in Aleppo. But SDF troops have now pulled back from there and the Syrian army now controls most areas east of Aleppo.
The Saudi foreign ministry statement also thanked the US for the agreement. Washington is believed to have supported brokering the ceasefire between allies SDF and the Syrian government, who they have also backed diplomatically since the fall of long-time dictator Bashar Assad.
The Syrian state announced on Friday a raft of new directives to recognize Syrian Kurds, including making their language official and bolstering other rights for the minority group.
