RIYADH: Chinese language instruction has begun in the country's schools to provide young people with valuable language skills and a deeper appreciation for the Asian nation's culture.
The language is taught to primary and secondary school students.
According to the educational agreement between the two countries last year, 175 teachers have been teaching Mandarin in Saudi Arabia.
“Arabic courses are widely available in Chinese universities, and many international secondary schools also have Arabic teachers.” (Shutterstock)
The ministry said young Saudi Arabian students will improve their opportunities to find employment or study at prestigious Chinese universities.
Hanan Alharbi, a Saudi mother in Riyadh, said she was “very positive” about the ministry's decision because it was “an important step towards promoting world culture and providing students with new and useful language skills, especially since the teachers are Chinese.”
This decision is taking into account the growing importance of China in the world economy and the trade and economic relations between the two countries.
quicklyThe facts
• According to reports, 175 teachers are teaching Mandarin in Saudi Arabia, in line 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 pilot the language program before gradually expanding the curriculum to include education up to third secondary by 2029.
Taotao Wang, a Chinese mother from Tianjin, said: “We see this as a positive development. For us, it means sharing the cultural classics of Chinese civilization beyond our borders.
“For Saudi Arabia, this helps remove barriers to effective communication between our two nations. 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 an energetic country with many young people. There are many Chinese who do business and travel in Saudi Arabia … Teaching Chinese in schools will make communication easier and more direct for the youth of both countries.
She said that she has started teaching Arabic language in China.
“Arabic courses are widely available in Chinese universities, and many international secondary schools also have Arabic teachers. I hope that the cultural and commercial exchanges between the two countries will get better,' she said.
The ministry said it has selected a number of schools to pilot the language program before expanding the curriculum to include tertiary education by 2029.
This phased approach will allow the ministry to assess the effectiveness of the program and make necessary adjustments.
Youssef Al-Benyan, the Kingdom's Minister of Education, recently highlighted the government's significant investment in the sector in alignment with Saudi Vision 2030.
