Faisal Foundation, IBO sign accord

The King Faisal Foundation (KFF) and the International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO) signed Friday a partnership project that will bring holistic IB educational programs to the Kingdom through the “Developing Learners, Leaders and Teachers for the future of Saudi Arabia” project.
Prince Bandar bin Saud bin Khalid, secretary-general of KFF, said: “Our partnership with the IBO has existed since 2008 and this new phase is a five-year plan that will lay strong foundations for future leaders, innovators, and professionals who will be able to use their knowledge to enhance the quality of education and benefit the Kingdom’s economy.
“Our aim is to develop up to 40 primary and secondary schools in the Kingdom to become centers of excellence as IB World Schools including the provision of IB diploma program subjects in Arabic.”
Prince Bandar said: “We aim for over 1,500 teachers to be trained through an innovative professional development program and hundreds of practicing teachers and school leaders will acquire IB teaching and leadership certificates each year.
“In line with the KFF mission, and with an investment of more than SR1.65 million from the foundation, this initiative aims to gradually transform education in Saudi Arabia and the Arabic-speaking world to be the best.”
The new partnership between the IBO and KFF aims to increase the impact of education in Saudi Arabia and the Arabic-speaking world. KFF is one of the largest philanthropic foundations worldwide with well-defined goals and focus on education, research and philanthropy.
Siva Kumari, director general of IBO said: “The IB is already recognized for its rigorous standards and holistic educational offer in Saudi Arabia and this partnership with the KFF is a significant commitment that will allow many more Arabic-speaking students access to the IB.”
Speaking to Arab News, Kumari said IB looks forward to truly internationalize its community as it is the organization's mission to create intercultural understanding. "Our organizations are aligned in the vision to create a better world through education and we are confident that the benefits will be felt in the Kingdom and beyond.”
KFF and IBO shared beliefs that the education for young people provides the foundation for greater understanding, awareness and knowledge throughout later life.
The project will focus on the educational development of young people and adults by increasing access to the IB’s primary years, middle years and diploma programs which are to be delivered in Arabic. This includes increasing the number of authorized IB World Schools in the Kingdom, in addition to translation of the program’s materials.
It will also seek to augment the professional development of educational professionals within the state system in Saudi Arabia. This will include establishing IB certificates in teaching and learning, and in leadership practice, at higher educational institutions locally.
For more than 45 years, IB programs have gained a reputation for their high academic standards, for preparing students for life in a globalized 21st century, and for helping to develop citizens who will create a better, more peaceful world. Currently there are over 1 million IB students attending over 4,600 programs in more than 147 countries.