The text books, which will be used from the first year of primary until the third year of secondary school, are due to be rolled out from the September 2007 school year, the Okaz daily said.

“The (education) ministry’s objective is to encourage pupils and teachers to be reflective and innovative,” the paper quoted a ministry official as saying.

Some 50 people are involved in writing the new text books, the paper added.

The schooling system in Saudi Arabia, which enforces a strict form of Islamic law, has come under mounting fire from the kingdom’s US ally, which charges that it encourages intolerance and extremism.