JEDDAH — Rating the level of development of nations depends on several factors, including life expectancy, education, literacy, and average income. According to the Human Development Report by United Nations Development Program, human development is about creating an environment in which people can develop their full potential and lead productive, creative lives in accord with their needs and interests. People are the real wealth of nations. Development is thus about expanding the choices people have to lead lives that they value. Education has become the prime focus of improvements and reform in the Kingdom. In a report published by the US-Saudi Arabian Business Council, Dr. Khaled Al-Sabti, the Vice Minister of Education, said: “With more than 37 percent Saudis under the age of 14, new challenges are arising in the field of education. The Ministry of Education plans to create a strong education system in the Kingdom, focusing on improving the quality of education in public schools while also increasing the participation of the private sector.” Examples of education reform initiatives include implementing a lower teacher-to-student ration, increasing teachers' salaries, providing teachers' training, making the learning process more interactive and interesting, opening more pre-school programs, and connecting every school in Saudi Arabia to the internet. The Ministry of Education development program, called Tatweer, aims to make students proficient in math, science, and computer skills. The program encourages students to acquire better communication skills, and it promotes innovation and environmental literacy. Many private schools in the Kingdom are adopting new programs to help students graduate from high school with a set of essential skills and a solid educational foundation that will help them compete and succeed in the continuously increasing competitive environment in universities and the job market worldwide. The American High School Diploma section of Al-Ekha'a Boys' School in Jeddah has formed a unique partnership with the prestigious Dublin City University to offer the school's teachers an intense course of training and professional development. Dublin City University has reached an agreement for training the school's teachers along the lines of the partnership it has formed with Princess Noura University in Riyadh. The course will be taught by an instructor from the Irish university and it is specifically designed to improve delivery of all subjects delivered in English by non-native teachers of English. Its main areas of emphasis are pronunciation, teaching methodologies, classroom management techniques, use of technology and the development of advanced learning skills for teachers and students alike. This course of training has been tailored specifically to meet the needs and challenges of schools in Saudi Arabia. Dublin City University was established in 1980 and is recognized internationally as a center of academic excellence. It is one of the world's top 50 universities under 50 years old. It is keen on further developing academic relationships within the Kingdom. During his recent visit to Jeddah, Dr. Cathal May, CEO of Dublin City University Language School, recognized the commitment and dedication of the teachers at Al Ekha'a School in learning advanced teaching techniques. At this school in Jeddah, all students are required to undergo rigorous diagnostic testing administered by an independent educational consultancy.
In accordance with its commitment to further developing the use of the English language, the school arranges an annual summer program for students to travel to Ireland and stay with host families so they can learn and practice English. The Head of the School, Vincent O' Carroll, and the School Principal, Sean Goulding, both Irish nationals, have between them over a quarter of a century of experience in managing schools in the Kingdom. “My goal is to ensure that our students can compete internationally upon graduation from high school. For that reason we have chosen to invest in our school's most important resource — its teachers,” said O'Carroll to the Saudi Gazette.
