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English Education Policy in Saudi Arabia: English Language Education Policy in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: Current Trends, Issues and Challenges

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English Language Education Policy in the Middle East and North Africa

Part of the book series: Language Policy ((LAPO,volume 13))

Abstract

This article critically examines current issues and challenges in policy and practices of English education in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It argues that although the current critical decisions on the language education policy being applied in the KSA are driven primarily by the forces of global changes, in order for this policy to be implemented successfully it is essential that a strategic plan to be designed, guided by local intellectual conditions and exigencies. Otherwise, it is likely that these policy changes will not only jeopardize the classical Arabic and national cultural identity, but also they may put Saudi national interests at risk. It further contends that it is crucial for the Saudi government to deeply understand the intersection of current English language policy and practices in both public and higher education, ‘the internationalization of education and ‘national cultural identity’ in order successfully to promote mass literacy in English in the country and at the same time maintain national interests. It also suggests that an epistemic and cognitive shift needs to take place in the English education policy and practices of the KSA in order to effectively realize the intended outcomes of current Saudi education policy: i.e., promoting mass literacy in English, and meeting religious needs as well as the growing economic and social needs of the Saudi nation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Royal Commission Colleges and Institutes, Yanbu, Saudi Arabia

    Osman Z. Barnawi

  2. King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

    Sajjadullah Al-Hawsawi

Authors
  1. Osman Z. Barnawi
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  2. Sajjadullah Al-Hawsawi
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Correspondence to Osman Z. Barnawi .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Gulf University for Science & Technology, West Mishref, Kuwait

    Robert Kirkpatrick

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Barnawi, O.Z., Al-Hawsawi, S. (2017). English Education Policy in Saudi Arabia: English Language Education Policy in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: Current Trends, Issues and Challenges. In: Kirkpatrick, R. (eds) English Language Education Policy in the Middle East and North Africa. Language Policy, vol 13. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-46778-8_12

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-46778-8_12

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-46776-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-46778-8

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