The Ministry of Education of Saudi Arabia has accepted the first set of foreign textbooks, a set of Chinese language textbooks made by a firm in Yinchuan, Ningxia Hui autonomous region.
According to the firm, its Smart Chinese textbooks are designed for use in both elementary and secondary schools.
The business spent four years preparing the books for use in Arab nations, and stated they were written in accordance with the Standard for Chinese Proficiency Grading Standards for International Chinese Language Education.
The materials were written with input from Saudi Arabian Mandarin language teachers. The business claims that by fusing elements of Chinese and Arabic culture, they have developed a fresh mode of language and presentation that is tailored to the reading habits of Arabs.
It was said that the textbooks’ emphasis on practical application and emphasis on teacher-student collaboration will help students in their day-to-day lives.
The books, it was said, come with downloadable classroom activities and digital teaching resources to make learning more engaging and interesting for kids.
According to Xinhua News Agency, Saudi Arabia has included the teaching of Mandarin into its education system, established Mandarin-related majors at nine colleges, and educated more than 300 local Chinese-language instructors.
The business forecasts a substantial demand for Chinese language courses among Saudis and other Middle Easterners. Several Saudi Arabian educational institutions have signed agreements of collaboration with it, it claimed.
In October, the business also opened an HSK testing facility in Riyadh, the Saudi Arabian capital. The on-site HSK exam was held on October 16 and nine students participated; more than sixty pupils have registered for the next test, it said.