Iqra to open its centres in four countries

The Iqra centres will be opened in these four countries before the end of next year.” Yosra Al Hashimi, executive chairwoman, Iqra Centres

dubai — The UAE-based Iqra Arabic Language Education Centre will open its four new centres in Britain, Singapore, Finland and Turkey to impart Arabic language education for children and grown-ups.

The four countries have been selected due to the presence of large number of Arab communities there, as well as trade ties between them and the Arab countries.

Yosra Al Hashimi, executive chairwoman of Iqra Centres, said: “The Iqra centres will be opened in these four countries before the end of next year.”

Al Hashimi stressed that the targeted categories abroad will be similar to the same as in the UAE, as 80 per cent of the students will be from the Arab nations, who are desirous to learn their mother tongue.

She added that there is a large Arab community in London as well as in Istanbul, which takes much interest in Arabic language as Turkey is predominantly a Muslim country.

“As for Singapore, it is one of the cities which look forward to progressive education, and the Singaporeans are always opening new education centres with focus on Arabic language. Finland also has interest in Arabic language due to trade relations with the Middle East,” she said.

Explaining the curriculum, she said it comprises three levels for adults and each level will be divided into three other levels. Each level requires 120 hours of study, which means completion of all the levels need 360 hours.

“For youngsters, the curriculum will be divided according to the age groups. The first will be from class 1 to class five ( primary), while the second stage is for the students from class 6 to class 9 and the final stage for the high school students.”

She also said agreement was made with Arabic teachers in the four countries.

“The centre did not face any difficulty in finding teachers in London, Istanbul and Singapore. However, we recruited Arabic teachers for Finland from abroad.”

The centres will follow the same curriculum adopted by Dubai without interfering in the education system of those countries.

malzarooni@khaleejtimes.com