Schools start YouTube educational channels

Several schools in the Kingdom have launched educational channels on YouTube in conjunction with the “Smart Education” program requirements and recording guidelines set by the Ministry of Education recently.
Of late, teachers have experienced increased demand for YouTube courses, especially among women. Such courses are designed to provide alternative and more modern methods of education. However they do not replace or override the requirements of traditional educational learning environments.
The director of developmental programs at the Ministry of Education, Mohammad Al-Sharif, clarified that these YouTube courses require a license or an official statement, specifically if recording occurs in girls’ schools, and material should be documented without portraying any identifiable educational figures. He said that the material should also not contradict any Islamic or moral principles.
Hanan Al-Arfaj, supervisor of educational technology at the Department of Education in the Eastern Province, explained that an initiative specialized in educational film production was launched to help teachers learn how to use film as an educational tool.
Al-Arfaj said the initiative is currently being implemented in five schools.
However, other educational supervisors and teachers have argued that overemphasis on official controls will ultimately reduce the use of YouTube educational materials in schools, as many staff are conscious of being held accountable for any potential irregularities or violations that were unintentional on their part.
Fawzia Saleh, principal of a private school, said: “Awareness is duty, and we must use technology as a useful means of providing education, but this must be done without causing an imbalance in the educational process.”