In this major project the British Council responded to priorities expressed by the Saudi Arabian government in relation to the preparation of young Saudis for the workplace and for study. 

Client, stakeholders, partners

• The Ministry of Education, Saudi Arabia
• The vocational training organisation of the Government of Saudi Arabia

Focus
To improve the teaching and learning of English in schools throughout Saudi Arabia, and technical and vocational English for students in vocational education colleges

The project
In this major project the British Council responded to priorities expressed by the Saudi Arabian government in relation to the preparation of young Saudis for the workplace and for study. Saudi Arabia has a rapidly expanding population of young people seeking education and work in all sectors.

The British Council was asked to provide strategic advice and practical assistance to the Ministry of Education and to GOTEVOT (the state vocational education body) on developing English language training. The three main areas of the project were textbook and materials development and design, teacher training and development, and curriculum reform.

The British Council brought four British consultants to Saudi Arabia for two and a half years to work with local decision makers and senior practitioners in the two sectors. The consultants visited schools, provided trainer training and set up a cadre of national trainers, for both the women's and the men's side. They also set up a national system for assessing course books and materials so that the Ministry could respond to bids arising from tenders.

The consultants worked with senior decision makers and practitioners representing the 35 vocational education colleges in the Kingdom. They helped the Ministry's English Language Committee to establish new national standards, and provided advice and practical input to nationwide programmes of teacher and trainer training.

By the end of the project new standards had been signed off, the Saudi Government had received bids and presentations from British publishers, and the impetus achieved had enabled our partners to initiate and sustain transformation in the teaching of English throughout the country's school and vocational education sectors.

What the stakeholders say

• "We are indebted to you for our new insight into ways of dealing not just with assessment of curriculum and materials, but also in approaches to publishers' bids."
  Head of English Curriculum, Ministry of Education
• "We would never have been able to agree and set the new standards without your invaluable work and dedication to our English Language Committee".
  Chair of English Committee & Centre Director - GOTEVOT

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