Fate of more than 16,000 students in jeopardy

KUWAIT CITY, Sept 21: With just a few days before the new academic year, Arab private schools are facing a major crisis due to their inability to absorb a number of students, reports Al-Rai daily. Prior to the corona pandemic, the number of students per classroom was 52. Now, the number is limited to 40; thereby, putting the fate of more than 16,000 students in jeopardy, unless exceptional measures are taken.

The daily has been informed that the estimated surplus in each school ranges from 100 to 130 students. With 161 schools having a total of 81,344 students; the number per school ranges from 16,100 to 21,000. The working hours for the two groups of students were discussed, but the problem lies in the fact that Arab private schools and those in the public sector are linked with the plan of the Ministry of Education.

The decision of some Arab schools to apologize to the parents for the inability to accommodate their children hit the latter like a thunderbolt. These schools informed the parents that the issue is beyond their authority. This has prompted the parents to appeal to the ministry to quickly solve their problem — before traditional classes start on Oct 3. The parents stressed they cannot leave their children on the waiting list, and that the ministry can resolve the issue.

Meanwhile, a private school official told the daily: “We have transformed all school facilities into classrooms to accommodate the largest number of students, leaving only the toilets.”