Global Arab Network | Saudi: GCC Bureau of Education to launch new Arabic version of Open Sesame

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Saudi: GCC Bureau of Education to launch new Arabic version of Open Sesame

- Sarah Khan

Sunday, 27 June 2010 17:09

Saudi (Riyadh) - The Arab Bureau of Education of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) signed a Memo of Understanding with the Sesame Workshop, formerly known as the Children's Television Workshop (or CTW), to launch a new Arabic version of the internationally renowned Open Sesame educational children's program.

Office Director Dr. Ali Al-Qarni told a press conference, held jointly with Sesame Workshop's regional director of international partnerships Robert Kne’evi, that this MoU is for a comprehensive educational initiative and curricula improvement, and not just for a sesame television program.

"We are in dire need of such constructive and educational programs, especially to confront the negative media that assails our children at present, and the non-profit organization's cooperation would enable us to whet our children's skills and expand their awareness, while also educating them," the Gulf official said.

Al-Qarni pointed out there would be a joint workshop in December to work on drafting a reference charter of sorts for the initiative, which would be phrased in Arabic.

Meanwhile, the Sesame Workshop representative noted the 40th anniversary of the leading educational "Sesame Street" program tailored for kinder gardeners and preschoolers, offered in over 40 countries across the world so far.

He also expressed joy at discovering the history and appreciation of the Sesame Street programs among many generations in the GCC region. The new version would rely on and complement the current GCC curricula, but would address the changing needs of new generations, he said.

Open Sesame Program representative in the GCC region Firas Al-Maddah meanwhile pointed out the content of the new version would be culturally localized, and come within a framework of a specific educational and cultural vision.

The private sector is a major partner in the new venture, he added, and the new program is expected to have as great a positive impact on new generations as the old one in the region.

Global Arab Network

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