Standards for the Arabic Language in School Education: Saudi Arabia

(Ahmed Hassan Ahmed Alfakih)

---

Abstract

Given the recent experience of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on building standards for the Arabic language and its importance locally and in the Arab world, in addition to the absence of previous studies that reviewed this experience, the current study aimed to uncover the standards of the Arabic language in public education in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. A descriptive approach was used in its exploratory design to achieve this goal and the analysis of official documents was used as a method for collecting data. The study concluded with a definition of the Saudi experience on building curriculum standards in public education and an explanation of the Saudi national program for building standards for the Arabic language. This included a definition of the Arabic language, a description of its nature, the rationale for including it as a field of learning in public education and its learning objectives, along with a description of its structure, a presentation of the structure model, naming its branches, determining its teaching hours, the central and main ideas of each branch, how to include common dimensions in the standards, and clarification of how to build standards according to levels and grades. In light of this experience, there is a need to build development plans and programs that benefit the Ministry of Education, faculties of education, and Arabic language teachers and their supervisors to teach Arabic in public education while considering the standards. However, there is a set of research proposals for researchers and specialists in teaching Arabic, the most important of which is conducting more studies to evaluate the current Arabic language curricula considering the experience of standards and determining the level of readiness of the educational field to apply the standards of the Arabic language in public education.

KEYWORDS
Curricula, curriculum design, curriculum development, curriculum standards, language needs, teaching and learning

PDF

References

Al-Dulaimi, I.H. (2014). Alnazariat Albinayiyat Watatbiqatuha Altarbawiatu ’Constructivist Theory and its Pedagogical Applications’. Amman: Dar Safa for Printing and Distribution. [in Arabic]
Al-Houdhoudi, I.S. (2011). Tatwir Almanahij Walmaeayir Altarbawiat ’Developing Educational Curricula and Standards’. Available at: http://kenanaonline.com/users/dredrees/posts/241256 (accessed on 14/12/2020) [in Arabic] 
Al-Kalbani, Y.H. (2020). Asbab tadaniy altahsil aldirasii fi muharati alqira'at walkitabat ladaa tlbt madaris muhafazat alwustaa bisiltanat eamman min wijhat nazar almuealimin wamadiru almadarisi ’Reasons for the low academic achievement in reading and writing skills among students of Alwusta governorate schools in the Sultanate of Oman from the viewpoint of teachers and school principals’. Journal of University Studies for Inclusive Research, 1(3), 477–501. [in Arabic]
Al-Matouk, A.M. (1996). Alhasilat Allaghwiat: 'Ahamitiha-Msadrha-Wsayil Tanmiyatiha ’Linguistic Outcome: Their Importance - Their Sources - Means of Their Development’. Kuwait‎: Alam Almareafh. [in Arabic]
Al-Nassar, S.A. (2012). Daef altalabat fi allughat alearabiati: qara'atan fi 'asbab alduef watharih fi daw' natayij albihawth waldirasat aleilmiati ’Students' weakness in the Arabic language: A reading into the causes and effects of weakness in light of the results of scientific research and studies’. In: International Conference on the Arabic Language "Arabic is A Global Language: The Responsibility of the Individual and Society", International Council for the Arabic Language, Beirut, Lebanon. [in Arabic]
Al-Qusi, K.S. (2018). Alwaqie allaghwiu fi majal altaelim fi almamlakat alearabiat alsaeudiati ’The linguistic reality in the field of education in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’, Journal of the Saudi Scientific Society for the Arabic language, n/a(15), 195–293. [in Arabic]
Al-Rabieani, W.M. (2019). Altadris alqayim ealaa almaeayir ’Standards-based teaching’. Afaq Journal, 58(n/a), 43–9. [in Arabic]
Al-Saadawi, A.S and Al Shamrani, S.A. (2016). Altaelim Almuetamad Ealaa Almeayir: Al'usus Walmafahim Alnazariati ’Standards-Based Education: Theoretical Foundations and Concepts’. Riyadh: Arab Bureau of Education for the Gulf States. [in Arabic]
Al-Sbiei, Q.M. (2019). Ruaa mustaqbaliat litatwir manahij taelim allughat alearabiat fi almamlakat alearabiat alsaeudia ’Future visions for developing Arabic language curricula in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’ In: D.A. Al Daaf (eds.) Tatwir Manahij Taelim Allughat Alearabiat Bialmamlakat Alearabiat Alsaewdit: Dirasat Tatabieayhi Tatabieayhi ’Developing Arabic Language Curricula in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: Tracer Studies’. Riyadh: King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz International Center for the Arabic Language. [in Arabic]
Al-Shamsan, A.I. (1999). Mujabahat alduef allaghwi ’Confronting linguistic weakness’. Alaqiq , 12(23- 24), 11–66. [in Arabic]
Al-Syad, M. (2011). Waqie allughat alearabiat fi alwatan alearabii wafaq altatwiru ’The reality of the Arabic language in the Arab world and prospects for development’. Arab Tongue Journal, 66(n/a), 23–109. [in Arabic]
Al-Tamim, A.M., Al Hudaibi, A.A., Al Nimri, H.S., Al Awaidi, W.H., Al Ahmadi, M.M., Al Muntashari, A.A. and Al Ghamdi, S.A. (2019). Maeayir tasmim kitab allughat alearabiat almudrasii ’Criteria for designing an Arabic language textbook’.  Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz International Center for the Arabic Language. [in Arabic]
Ary, D., Jacobs, L.C., Sorensen, C. and Razavieh, A. (2010). Introduction to Research in Education. 8th edition. United States: Cengage Learning.
Barian, A.M. (2019). Waqie eamaliat tatwir manahij allughat alearabiat bialmamlakat alearabiat alsaeudiati ’The reality of the Arabic language curriculum development processes in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’. In: D.A. Al Daaf (eds.) Tatwir Manahij Taelim Allughat Alearabiat Bialmamlakat Alearabiat Alsaewdit: Dirasat Tatabieayhi ’Developing Arabic Language Curricula in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: Tracer Studies’. Riyadh: King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz International Center for the Arabic Language. [in Arabic]
California Department of Education. (2015). English Language Arts/ English Language Development Framework for California Public Schools Kindergarten through Grade Twelve. Available at: http://www.cde.ca.gov/ci/rl/cf/elaeldfrmwrksbeadopted.asp (accessed on 14/12/2020) 
Department for Education. (2014). National Curriculum in England: English Programs of Study. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-curriculum-in-england-english-programmes-of-study (accessed on 14/12/2020)
Education and Training Evaluation Commission. (2015). Almaeayir Alwataniat Limanahij Altaelim Aleami Fi Almamlakat Alearabiat Alsaeudiati ’National Standards for Public Education Curricula in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’. Available at: https://www.al-madina.com/article/412378/ (accessed on 14 /12/ 2020) [in Arabic]
Education and Training Evaluation Commission. (2017). Barnamaj Almaeayir Alwataniat Limanahij Altaelimi ’National Standards Program for Education Curricula’. Riyadh: Education and Training Evaluation Commission. [in Arabic]
Education and Training Evaluation Commission. (2018). Al'iitar Alwataniu Limaeayir Manahij Altaelim Aleami fi Almamlakat Alearabiat Alsaeudiati ’The National Framework for Curriculum Standards for General Education in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’. Riyadh: Education and Training Evaluation Commission. [in Arabic] 
Education and Training Evaluation Commission. (2019a). Al'iitar Altukhasusiu Limijal Taelam Allughat Alearabiati ’Specialized Framework for the Field of Learning the Arabic Language’. Riyadh: Education and Training Evaluation Commission. [in Arabic] 
Education and Training Evaluation Commission. (2019b). Wathiqat Maeayir Majal Taelam Allughat Alearabiati ’Document of Standards for the Field of Learning the Arabic Language’. Riyadh: Education and Training Evaluation Commission. [in Arabic] 
Hawari, A.R. (2020). Asbab daef altalabat fi maharat allughat alearabiat fi daw' natayij alaikhtibar alwatanii 2019 waturuq eilajaha ’Reasons for students' weakness in Arabic language skills in light of the results of the 2019 National Examination and methods of treatment’. Journal of Arts, Literature, Humanities and Sociology, n/a(61), 226–41. [in Arabic] 
Ibn Hamo, M. (2015). Alduef allaghwiu eind altlamydh: Al'asbab walealaji ’Linguistic weakness of pupils: Causes and treatment’. Approaches to the Journal of Human Sciences. 20(10), 68–79. [in Arabic] 
Kumar, R. (2011). Research Methodology: A Step-By-Step Guide for Beginners. 3rd edition. London: SAGE.
Marayatay, M. (2014). Allughat Waltanmiat Almustadamatu: Dawr Allughat fi Altahawul 'Iilaa Mujtamae Almaerifat Walaiqtisad Alqayim Ealaa Almaerifati ’Language and Sustainable Development: The Role of Language in the Transition to Knowledge Society and Knowledge-Based Economy’. Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz International Center for the Arabic Language. [in Arabic]
Ministry of Education in New Zealand. (2007). The New Zealand Curriculum. Available at: http://nzcurriculum.tki.org.nz/The-New-Zealand-Curriculum (accessed on 14/12/2020)
Ministry of Education in Ontario. (2006). The Ontario Curriculum: English language. Available at: http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/curriculum/elementary/language.html (accessed on 14/12/2020)
Ministry of Education. (1996). Siasat Altaelim fi Almamlakat Alearabiat Alsaeudia ’Education Policy in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’. 4th edition. Riyadh: Ministry of Education. [in Arabic]
Muhammad, M.A. (2011). Damanat tatwir manahij allughat alearabiati: Ruyat mustaqbaliata ’Guarantees of developing Arabic language curricula: A future vision’, Arab Tongue Journal, 66(n/a), 243–61. [in Arabic]
National Commission on Excellence in Education. (1983). A Nation at Risk: An Imperative for Educational Reform. A Report to the Nation and the Secretary of Education United States Department of Education. Available at:
http://www.ed.gov/pubs/NatAtRisk/risk.html (accessed on 14/12/2020)
National Curriculum Board. (2009). Shape of the Australian Curriculum: English. Available at: http://docs.acara.edu.au/resources/Australian_Curriculum_-_English.pdf (accessed on 14/12/2020)
Neuman, W.L. (2007). Basics of Social Research: Qualitative and Quantitative Approaches. 2nd edition. Boston, Mass, London: Pearson, Allyn and Bacon. 
Qasim, M.J and Al Hudaibi, A.A. (2016). Daef Mukharajat Taelam Allughat Alearabiata: Almazahir Wal'asbab Walealaja ’Poor Arabic Language Learning Outcomes: Appearances, Causes and Treatment’. Sharjah: The Educational Center for the Arabic Language for the Gulf States. [in Arabic]
Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority. (2015). Prep Year English: Australian Curriculum in Queensland. Available at: https://www.qcaa.qld.edu.au/ (accessed on 14/12/2020)
Saadeh, J.A and Ibrahim, E.M. (2014). Almanhaj Almadrasiu Almueasiru ’Contemporary School Curriculum’. Amman: Dar Alfiker. [in Arabic]
Toaima, R.A. (2004). Al'ususu Aleamat Limanahij Taelim Allughat Alearabiati: 'Iiedadiha, Tatwirha, Taqwimiha ’General Foundations of the Arabic Language Teaching Curricula: Preparation, Development, and Evaluation’. Cairo: Dar Alfiker Alarabi. [in Arabic]
Yuns, F.E. (2011). Ealaqat alkafa'at fi allughat alearabiat bialtahsil fi almawadi aldirasiat al'ukhraa fi almarhalat alaibtidayiya ’The relationship of competence in the Arabic language to achievement in other subjects at the primary level’. Journal of Reading and Knowledge, n/a(112), 22– 44. [in Arabic]