BBC World Service is introducing Dars Arabic, an educational program aimed at children in the Middle East and North Africa.
This initiative is an extension of the Dars program. The United Nations refers to it as a “learning lifeline” for Afghan children.
In the region, around 30 million children are not in school. Many are out of school due to conflicts in Sudan, Yemen, and Gaza. These conflicts have disrupted their education. Dars Arabic seeks to provide these children with access to learning despite numerous challenges.
The program offers lessons in subjects like Math, English, Science, and Geography. These lessons are for children aged 11 to 16. They cater to various skill levels. Each week, it features inspiring stories of young people overcoming difficulties. It also includes positive news on topics like climate and health. The program offers tailored mental health lessons.
These mental health lessons consist of short animated films created in collaboration with conflict psychologists. They aim to equip young viewers with skills to understand their emotions and improve their mental health. Topics include coping with loss, adjusting to change, managing stress, and maintaining hope during tough times.
The animated content is available through broadcasts on BBC News Arabic TV. It is also available on digital platforms. Additionally, it reaches audiences across the BBC World Service’s 41 language services and the World Service YouTube channel.
Dars first started in 2023 on BBC News Pashto and Dari, focusing on Afghan children unable to attend school. Since 2021, Afghan girls aged 11 to 16 have been barred from education. Female BBC journalists, many of whom were evacuated from Kabul in 2021, host the program.
Dars Arabic delivers targeted content for children in the Arabic-speaking world. The 30-minute episodes will premiere on BBC News Arabic TV and digital platforms on Sunday, February 9.
The program is produced in Cairo. It features young presenters from the region. BBC News Arabic correspondents Hanan Razek and Yasmine Abukhadra lead the English lessons.
Fiona Crack, Deputy Global Director of BBC News, expressed gratitude for feedback from Dari audiences. She also thanked Pashto audiences for sharing their views about the impact of Dars. She emphasized that Dars Arabic cannot replace formal schooling. However, it aims to inspire a passion for learning among young audiences and their families.
New episodes of Dars Arabic will air weekly on Sundays at 05:30 GMT (07:30 EET). Repeat broadcasts will occur at 10:05 GMT (12:05 EET) and throughout the week. It will also be accessible on BBC News Arabic’s digital platforms and through lifeline radio services in Gaza and Syria.