Saudi Arabia's Education Ministry has announced that it will be introducing earth and space sciences into the secondary school curriculum starting from the next academic year. This decision comes as two Saudi astronauts completed a 10-day mission to the International Space Station (ISS).
The new subject, which will be taught in Arabic and English, is designed to promote students' positive attitudes towards space science and to develop their abilities in natural and applied sciences. The syllabus will cover a wide range of topics, including the solar system, the Earth's atmosphere, and the stars and galaxies.
The Ministry of Education said that the introduction of the new subject is part of its "keenness to cope with aspirations and future objectives" aimed to qualify internationally competitive citizens by upgrading learning outputs to keep abreast of world changes, future requirements and labor market needs.
The decision to teach earth and space sciences in Saudi Arabia is a positive step that will help to inspire young people to pursue careers in science and engineering. It is also a sign of the Kingdom's commitment to developing its human capital and to becoming a leading player in the global space race.
