The Ministry of Education has introduced teaching English from the first grade of primary school during the first semester of the current academic year 2021-2022, according to the new study plans to improve education outcomes. This will assist in developing the capabilities of male and female students from an early age to prepare them for the future, and to achieve the goals of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030.
The new courses include teaching the English language curriculum in a way that develops the exploration and refinement of language skills at an early age, starting from the first grade of primary school. The Ministry of Education has approved the application of teaching the English language to students in the first grade of primary school to keep pace with requirements, enhance their skills for the twenty-first century, and to meet the requirements of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Furthermore, preparing students for the labor market requires mastery of the English language, especially now due to the openness of the labor market in the Kingdom, and the multiplicity of opportunities, as well as the entry of many global sectors that require suitably qualified individuals with the languages needed for the modern era.
The Ministry of Education aims to improve the students’ skills in speaking, reading and writing English, and prepare them for the post-secondary level, qualifying them for admission to local and international universities. The aim is to keep pace with the best educational practices, and bridge the gap in basic skills between the requirements of academic study and the needs of the labor market.
The decision by the Ministry of Education is supported by the desire of students and their families to teach their children English language skills from an early age to enhance their abilities in the English language moving forward. Moreover, this will assist them in contributing to the service of their country in any position after their graduation, as well as supporting the development plans implemented by the Ministry to keep education in line with the human capacity development program and the objectives of the Kingdom's vision.
