RIYADH – There has been preliminary agreement between the Ministry of Culture and Ministry of Education to include culture and arts in the curriculum of government and private schools in the Kingdom. The two ministries reached the agreement during the meeting between Minister of Culture Prince Badr Bin Abdullah Bin Farhan and Minister of Education and Chairman of Technical and Vocational Training Corporation Dr. Hamad Al-Sheikh at the Ministry of Culture headquarters in Diriyah on Thursday, the Saudi Press Agency reported. Their talks focused on aspects of cooperation between the two ministries to achieve the relevant strategic objectives. It was agreed in principle that the Ministry of Education will transfer to the Ministry of Culture the power to grant permits and licenses for cultural and artistic activities. The Ministry of Culture shall have jurisdiction to grant permission to institutes, universities, colleges and private schools for the newly created programs and activities in the fields of culture and arts. The ministers agreed to carry out study about the transfer and issuance of permits for institutes, colleges and private schools specialized in the fields of culture and arts to the Ministry of Culture. It was also agreed in principle to operate the facilities of the Ministry of Education as school and university theaters.
