Life in the Gulf

New guidelines on teaching material
By Mohammed Al-Enizi

Saudi Gazette

DAMMAM – The Ministry of Education has ordered the erasing of images of pigs and musical instruments from English language teaching materials in privately-owned schools, along with the omission of everything that does not conform to Islamic teachings.

The ministry has also said that permission will be given to use books other than official ministry books only after being informed of the school’s study plan and the stage of education for which the materials will be used.

The Director General of Education at National and International Schools at the ministry, Khalid Bin Saeed Al-Suheim, has asked all regional directors of education to comply fully with the ministry’s request.
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Banning pictures of pigs, I can understand, but musical instrument I don't get.

Maybe they think that if children see pictures of pigs they will begin to have hungers pangs to eat pork :-)

Like what I read in The Alchemist "It's not what enters a men's mouth that is evil, it is what comes out of their mouth that is".

Unfortunately stories like this gives a bad impression that all Saudis easily gets angry or violated at the mere site or mention of pigs or any musical instrument.

But of course, most Saudis are not like that in reality.