RIYADH: Chinese language instruction has begun in schools across the country to provide young people with valuable language skills and foster a deeper appreciation for the Asian nation's culture.
This language is taught to elementary and middle school students.
According to reports, 175 educators are teaching Mandarin in Saudi Arabia, under an education agreement the two countries signed last year.
“Arabic courses are widely offered in Chinese universities, and many international secondary schools also have Arabic teachers.” (Shutterstock)
The Education Ministry said it would improve opportunities for young Saudi students to get jobs or study at prestigious Chinese universities.
Hanan Alharbi, a Saudi mother from Riyadh, said she was “very positive” about the Ministry of Education’s decision, saying it was “an important step in promoting global culture and providing students with new and useful language skills,” especially since the teachers are Chinese.
The decision comes as China's importance in the global economy grows and trade and economic relations between the two countries become more active.
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• According to reports, 175 educators are teaching Mandarin in Saudi Arabia, under an education agreement the two countries signed last year.
• The Saudi Ministry of Education said it has selected several schools to pilot the language program before gradually expanding the curriculum to include grade three by 2029.
“We see this as a positive development,” said Taotao Wang, a Chinese mother from Tianjin. “For us, it means sharing the cultural classics of Chinese civilization across the border.”
“For Saudi Arabia, this helps remove barriers to effective communication between the 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 she sees it as a “win-win” situation.
“Saudi Arabia is a vibrant country with a large young population. There are more and more Chinese people doing business and traveling in Saudi Arabia… Teaching Chinese in schools will enable young people in both countries to communicate easily and directly.”
She said Arabic is now being taught in China.
“Arabic courses are widely offered in Chinese universities, and many international secondary schools also have Arabic teachers. I hope that cultural and commercial exchanges between the two countries will continue to improve,” she said.
The Ministry of Education said it has selected several schools to pilot the language program before gradually expanding the curriculum to Grade 3 by 2029.
This phased approach allows the Department to evaluate the effectiveness of the program and make necessary adjustments.
Recently, Saudi Arabia's Minister of Education, Yousef Al-Beyan, emphasized that the government is investing heavily in this sector in line with Saudi Vision 2030.
