RIYADH: The Saudi ministries of culture and education opened registration for the second phase of the qualifying program for teachers to train in the musical arts. This phase, which will be held this coming September for four consecutive weeks, aims to help 8,000 kindergarten teachers, both in public and private preschools, to develop their competencies as they plan musical activities and lessons for children. The previous phase, held last May, saw the participation of over 7,000 kindergarten teachers. The program’s ultimate objectives are to help children better express themselves and acquire an ear for music. It is part of the Kingdom’s measures to include music in the school curriculum and to expose Saudis to music from a young age, helping them in their intellectual and linguistic development and social-emotional skills. The program runs from Sept. 3-28, with a total of 49 hours of training. After they complete the program, participants will be presented with a certificate from the Music Commission and the Institute for Education and Professional Development. Registration for the second phase of the program is now open for Saudi kindergarten teachers currently employed in a public or a private preschool in the Kingdom. The training program is offered through the Rawdati (“My Kindergarten”) platform.