RIYADH: Chinese language classes have begun in the country's schools to equip young people with valuable language skills and cultivate a deeper appreciation of the Asian nation's culture.
The language is taught to students at the primary and secondary levels.
According to the report, 175 educators are teaching Mandarin in Saudi Arabia, in accordance with an education agreement signed by the two countries last year.
“There are Arabic courses in Chinese universities, and many international high schools also have Arabic teachers.” (Shutterstock)
The ministry said that young students in Saudi Arabia will improve their chances of finding a job or continuing their education in a prestigious Chinese university.
Hanan Alharbi, a Saudi mother from Riyadh, said she was “very positive” about the ministry's decision because it was “an important step in promoting global culture and providing new language skills and it is beneficial for the students, especially the teachers are Chinese.”
The decision is consistent with the growing importance of China in the world economy and the trade and economic ties between the two countries.
fastingABOUT
• According to the report, 175 educators are teaching Mandarin in Saudi Arabia, in accordance with an education agreement signed by the two countries last year.
• The Saudi Ministry of Education said it has selected a number of schools to roll out language programs before gradually expanding the curriculum to include teaching up to second grade by 2029.
Taotao Wang, a Chinese mother from Tianjin, said: “We see this as a positive development. For us, this means sharing the traditional cultures of Chinese civilization beyond our borders.
“For Saudi Arabia, it helps remove barriers to effective relations between our two countries. This cultural exchange is about finding beauty in our differences and growing together. “
Alice Xiong, a teacher from China's Guangdong province, told Arab News that she sees it as a “win-win” situation.
“Saudi Arabia is a dynamic country with many young people. More and more Chinese are doing business and traveling in Saudi Arabia … teaching Chinese in schools will make communication easy and direct for the youth of both countries.”
He said that Arabic is now being taught in China.
“There are Arabic courses in Chinese universities, and many international high schools also have Arabic teachers. I hope that the cultural and commercial exchanges between the two countries will improve and improve,” he said.
The ministry said it has selected a number of schools to rotate the language curriculum before gradually expanding the curriculum to include education up to second grade in 2029.
This step-by-step approach allows the ministry to assess the effectiveness of the program and make necessary adjustments.
The Minister of Education Yousef Al-Benyan recently highlighted the government's significant investment in the sector in line with the Saudi Vision 2030.
