Instruction for Mathematics and Science in Primary and Lower Secondary Grades
The school timetable is organized into a 40 period week, with each period lasting 40 minutes. The school year comprises 36 weeks, with approximately 32 weeks of instructional time.8 Exhibit 3 summarizes the number of hours per week devoted to each subject area by grade for basic education, including mathematics and science instruction. The exhibit also shows time spent in second-language instruction.
Exhibit 3: Classes per Week for Basic Education9
| Grade and Number of Periods per Week | ||||||||
| Basic 1 | Basic 2 | Basic 3 | Basic 4 | Grade 5 | Grade 6 | Grade 7 | Grade 8 | |
| Islamic | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Arabic | 12 | 12 | 10 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 |
| English | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Mathematics | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 |
| Science | 3 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Social Studies | – | – | 2 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Life Skills | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Information and Communications Technology |
1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Physical Education | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Fine Arts | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Musical Skills | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Total | 40 | 40 | 40 | 40 | 40 | 40 | 40 | 40 |
Grade at Which Specialist Teachers for Mathematics and Science are Introduced
In Cycle One, students receive instruction from generalist teachers specifically prepared in combined mathematics and science instruction. From the beginning of Cycle Two (Grade 5), students receive instruction from teachers specializing in specific subjects, including mathematics and science.
Instructional Materials, Equipment, and Laboratories
All instructional materials and resources are provided to schools centrally. Student texts, workbooks, and laboratory manuals are written, produced, and distributed free of charge by the Ministry of Education. Multimedia resources are provided to learning resource centers in every school. Cycle One schools (Grades 1 to 4) have manipulative materials and equipment in the classroom. All Cycle Two schools (Grades 5 to 10) have laboratories.
Use of Technology
Traditional book-based libraries have been replaced by learning resource centers in all basic education schools. Each center is equipped with 15 computers and a range of audio-visual aids and print materials. In basic education second cycle schools (i.e., Grade 5 and up), a separate computer laboratory equipped with 20 additional computers also is provided.