Working with schools in The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia

How will this webinar work?

Please ensure your microphone/phone is on mute The webinar will be recorded Please refrain from asking any questions during the webinar. There will be a Q&A

section at the end of the webinar

About the British Council?

The British Council creates international opportunities for the people of the UK and other countries and builds trust between them worldwide. We are on the ground in six continents and over 100 countries bringing international opportunity to life, every day.

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Aims of the webinar

Develop an understanding of Saudi Arabia, their Education system and the challenges they faces

Benefits of partnering with a schools in Saudi Arabia for pupils and teachers How the British Council can help your school partner with a schools in Saudi Arabia Which areas of Saudi Arabia you can partner with How to apply and useful contact details Q&A session

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Facts about Saudi Arabia

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Facts about Saudi Arabia The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia comprises almost four-fifths of the Arabian Peninsula, an area

approximately one-third the size of the continental United States. Geographically, it is situated in the south-western part of Asia.

The capital city of Riyadh is located in Najd region . A chain of mountains in western Saudi Arabia runs parallel to the Red Sea. The Hijaz region along the Red Sea contains the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah, the port city of Jeddah and the summer capital of Taif.

Today the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia holds the world's largest reserves of petroleum (26% of proven total). Its annual purchasing power is about US$ 174 billion and the share of the private sector economic activities has reached 46% of GDP. 

Saudi Arabia’s fast growing population (26 million people today, compared to 12 million 20 years ago) have witnessed these changes within their own lifetime. Standards of living have improved dramatically as a result of comprehensive development programs.

Saudi Arabia

Education system in Saudi ArabiaSaudi Arabia’s education system has gone through an astonishing transformation. When the Kingdom was established in 1932, education was available to very few people, mostly the children of wealthy families living in the major cities.Today, Saudi Arabia’s education system includes 24 public and 8 private universities, with more planned; more than 31,000 schools , nearly 6,000,000 students , almost 550,000 teachers ; and a large number of colleges and other institutions. The system is open to all citizens, and provides students with free education, books and health services.

 The objectives of Saudi educational policy are to ensure that education becomes more efficient, to meet the religious, economic and social needs of the country and to eradicate illiteracy among Saudi adults.

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History of English language Teaching in Saudi Arabia

• English Language was first taught in schools in 1929 with 4 periods a week and started from the grade1.

• In 1942 it only started from the grade 7 with 4 periods a week.• In 1945 it became 12 periods a week.• In 1954 French Language was introduced, it ran for 17 years until 1970 when it was

cancelled.• In 1959 (English) became 6 periods in the intermediate stage and 8 in the secondary

level.• In 1964 it became 8 periods in the intermediate stage and 8 in the secondary level.• In 1980 it became 4 periods in the intermediate stage and 4 in the secondary level.• In 2003 it was introduced in level 6 with 2 periods a week.• In 2011 it was introduced in level 4 with 2 periods a week.

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Education Challenges

• Increasing  number of the pupils  over expected

• The quality of education & outcomes

• No enough number of professional teachers

• Keep pace with the global development

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Why partner with schools in Saudi Arabia? What are the benefits for pupils? A real life global context for the whole curriculum . Learning is real, relevant and exciting, and builds motivation and self-confidence. Understanding of middle eastern culture, society and education Helping students understanding their rights and responsibilities as global citizens. Preparing students for work in a global economy and building a fairer, more

sustainable world. Motivation to build trust between communities in the Saudi Arabia and the UK.

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What are the benefits for teachers and educators?

A chance to improve teaching skills and the curriculum by sharing best practice Opportunities to visit your partner school in Saudi Arabia with the British Council. A greater understanding of other countries, their cultures and their education

systems. Recognition for your school through the British Council's International School

Award. Resources to help you explore social, environmental, and cultural themes. Access to online British Council run professional development courses. A way to engage your local community and connect with other local schools.

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How can the British Council help you partner with schools in Saudi Arabia?We can support you in: Finding a partner – or school ‘cluster’ partner - and helping you apply Funding your partnership Managing your visit safely – e.g. help with local travel and accommodation. Advice and support every step of the way

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Which areas of the Saudi Arabia can you visit?

British Council manages regular UK school partner visits to host schools in line with FCO travel advice, across the country

British Council also works with the Ministry of Education and the local District Education Officers to make visits successful

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Next steps

Register on the British Council Schools Online site http://schoolsonline.britishcouncil.org/

British Council will suggest potential school partners in Saudi Arabia and connect you Develop a joint application for a Connecting Classrooms partnership grant Deadlines each term so apply when you and your partner school are ready For more info, please email schools@britishcouncil.org or

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Feedback from participants who have worked with schools in the Saudi Arabia "The partnership experience was very positive for staff and students.  The opportunity to share cultures and learning

through shared projects was invaluable".

Our schools engaged in cultural exchange projects, which included swapping video diaries and a healthy living project which involved sharing beliefs regarding what constitutes a healthy lifestyle and making comparisons between the two countries.

  Jeremy Edwards

Lead Specialist Practitioner

Bradfields School Outreach Team

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Feedback from participants who have worked with schools in the Saudi ArabiaThe partnership between the schools in the U.K. and Saudi Arabia has had a positive impact at both a personal level and on the school and the wider community and it is a partnership I am pleased that we are involved with.I visited Riyadh in February 2012 with a colleague for a planning meeting. This was a very proactive meeting where we planned the project together.

During the four days there I got to know a great deal more about the country, the people and the Education system. What became apparent was there were many similarities between the students in both countries and issues facing teachers were often the same.

The visit by the Saudi Arabians teachers was quite an event for our students. We have limited contact with people from other countries and the opportunity for them to experience other cultures is an important part of their educational experience.The visit was fantastic for the students ,the Saudi Arabian teachers came in National dress and were very

active during the visit with the students which led to many discussions during and after the visit.

 Andy Pearce :Deputy

Head Teacher – Braunton School

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Case study

Hi my name is Meshari Al Khames. I am an English teacher in Al Imam Al Sose intermediate school.

Thank you, thank you very much Ministry of Education and British Council for allowing me to join the programmer (connection classroom). I love to attend meeting and programmers to help improve my English and to find new ways to teach it. When I heard about connection classroom I thought it just another programmer. Thanks to Allah it was not. It’s really hard to find a programmer that can effect and improve my student, principle, my school and me just in two years. I asked my student to Google UK to look and learn about it before the task. Our first task was about ( Who Am I ). I worked with a first grade students in this task( 15 student). I was amazed with the work the student did. The idea to work a task and send it and receive a feed back from the UK school the next day is something drove the student to work and to ask more. I told the principle about the programmer and how much its going to help not only the school but the Saudi education. After a couple of meeting about connection classrooms my principle liked the ideas to share and to learn from a schools with a deferent curriculum environment and method of teaching and learning. So he provided me with support and encouragement. He even gave me a permission to use the school and to call the student’s parent to allowed them to stay after the school to finish the second task ( food). My principle called and ask the ministry of education to build a room. But not any kind of room an English lab.

A lot have change in two years and a lot will change. The are almost 10 schools in my area. The Ministry of Education gave me a certificate for the best English teacher for using different method and activities to teach English. English was a book I teach to student, but now English is The way I communicate, connect and share my experience.

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Contact us

schools@britishcouncil.org

www.britishcouncil.org/schoolsonline

www.britishcouncil.org/isa

www.britishcouncil.org/connectingclassrooms

http://schoolsonline.britishcouncil.org/linking-programmes-worldwide/connecting-classrooms/spotlight/SaudiArabia

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Question and Answer session

Apply before 25 October 2013