Saudi Arabia has initiated a new phase for qualifying thousands of kindergarten teachers in music skills, Saudi media reported.  In late 2022, the kingdom’s ministries of education and culture launched a programme under the supervision of the Music Commission to groom music teachers, starting with the kindergarten level. More than 12,000 female teachers in government and private kindergartens were trained during the first phase of the programme, part of a cultural ability development strategy. The new phase entails a comprehensive training programme for about 17,000 female teachers. Teaching music is part of a strategy led by the two ministries to include it and other arts in the educational curricula, gradually starting from the kindergarten stage and early primary school grades. In February last year, the Ministry of Culture launched the first college of arts at the Riyadh-based King Saud University with the aim of providing an educational and artistic environment favourable for research and innovation, and attracting talented students. In 2020, the Music Commission was established as a government agency affiliated with the Saudi Culture Ministry with a view to overseeing the development of a music sector that provides non-discriminatory access to music education, empowers musical talent and contributes to […]