KUWAIT CITY, Oct 3: MP Osama Al-Shaheen has asked Health Minister Dr Basel Al- Sabah and Education Minister Ali Fahd Al- Mudaf to exempt those who took the first dose of Covid-19 vaccine and those who booked for vaccination from the weekly PCR test requirement to enter schools. He pointed out the two ministers should not forget that they are public officials tasked to serve the citizens. He said these ministers have no right to force citizens to get vaccinated or undergo PCR test weekly, indicating it is totally unacceptable to tire out students and their guardians through the issuance of such decisions.

The parliamentary Education, Culture and Guidance Affairs Committee on Sunday met with representatives of the Public Authority for Applied Education and Training (PAAET). Committee Chairman MP Hamad Al- Matar disclosed that they discussed ways to develop the administrative and academic sectors, in addition to ensuring the safe return of students. He confirmed the senior officials at PAAET provided the committee with the plan on the resumption of traditional classes. He added the students will start attending classes on Oct 17, while the lecturers will resume work on Oct 10.

He also affirmed the readiness of class schedules for the scientific and other institutions, taking into consideration that some colleges like the College of Basic Education have a large number of students compared to other colleges such as the College of Nursing. He revealed most lecturers in colleges with low number of students will be physically present, while the hybrid educational system will be implemented in colleges with high number of students; adding that all exams will be paper-based.

He revealed the committee tackled as well the admission of almost 16,000 students at PAAET; emphasizing that the committee made sure the procedures are executed properly, in line with the regulations. He said the committee commented on the recent job advertisements published by PAAET, pointing out some advertisements did not guarantee equality among applicants. Meanwhile, MP Osama Al-Menawer forwarded queries to Minister of Finance and Minister of State for Economic and Investment Affairs Khalifa Hamada about the Board of Directors of Touristic Enterprises Company (TEC). He requested for copies of the curriculum vitae of the board members and asked if they occupied the same position in private companies before, during or after their appointment at TEC. He inquired if there has been investigation on the simultaneous board membership at TEC and a private company to determine conflict of interests, if any of the private companies where some board members of TEC are working or hold shares are engaged in activities similar to that of TEC, if any of the private companies won tenders floated by TEC, and if any of the TEC board members have submitted disclosures to present conflict of interests cases. By Saeed Mahmoud Saleh Arab Times Staff