A new education initiative in Yemen will provide English lessons for Yemeni students via Skype. The English language initiative connects students to Training Connect, an English language center based in London. Starting next school year, students in select schools can enroll in free lessons in English language skills for two hours a week. Also, the Council plans to set up courses for teachers and students on how to use government-approved English language websites that offer specific classes for the respective groups.
The program is the product of ongoing partnerships between Yemen and the United Kingdom. Yemen’s Ministry of Education and the Friends of Yemen British parliamentary group launched this initiative hoping that the educational partnership would not only strengthen Yemen’s educational institutions “technically and scientifically”, but that it will promote cultural exchange as well when experts from both countries make visits to the other nation.
Education Minister Abdul Razzaq al-Ashwal says the “programme falls within Ministry of Education’s efforts to address three major challenges facing the education system in our country: improving the quality of education, teaching training, and developing a national curriculum to teach the English language.”
Skype technology has been previously been banned in Yemen; “the unauthorized use of international calls is an illegal practice because it has a negative effect on the quality of telecommunication services and the international reputation of TeleYemen who are authorized to provide such a service,” states Ministry of Communications and Information Technology. The English training program will be regulated and many officials welcome the initiative.
Yemen is experiencing significant political and social change. Many anticipate the success of the new program. Ashwal, who has already begun his English training, hopes to develop similar programs that can help “improve educational performance in general” and “enhance their future contribution in the workplace.” Officials are optimistic that the program will help Yemen transition towards a more globalized nation.
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