KUWAIT CITY, Nov 13: As part of the collaboration between the Ministry of Education and the State Audit Bureau (SAB), the head of the team assigned by SAB to audit the Ministry of Education has sent a letter to the Assistant Undersecretary for Administrative Affairs and Administrative Development Matrouk Al-Mutairi with specific requests for employee data. These requests include:

a list of all non-Kuwaiti employees, with details such as their names, dates they were hired, educational backgrounds, job titles, and types of contracts.

a list of employees who have been absent from work since March 1, 2024

a list of Kuwaiti employees categorized by their specializations, along with their names, job titles, academic qualifications, and appointment dates.

a list of employees whose contracts were terminated since March 21, 2023, with details such as their academic backgrounds and reasons for leaving. In response to the letter sent by the SAB team head, the Assistant Undersecretary for Administrative Affairs and Administrative Development at the Ministry of Education Matrouk Al-Mutairi wrote to the Assistant Undersecretary for General Education asking for the requested data. The letter stated that SAB, through the letter dated November 3, 2024, had requested a list of the names of all employees who had been absent from work at the ministry since March 1, 2024.

To facilitate the ministry’s response to SAB, the assistant undersecretary instructed the relevant officials at the Ministry of Education to promptly compile and submit the required data. To ensure a prompt response to the SAB team, the necessary data must be submitted as soon as possible. The data should include the names of all employees who were absent from work during the specified period. In another development, the Ministry of Education, based on the directives of the Minister of Education Eng. Sayed Jalal Al-Tabtabaei, has announced plans to open and officially name seven new schools in Mutlaa, which fall under the jurisdiction of the Jahra Educational Zone, in time for the second semester of the 2024/2025 academic year. The ministry’s decision to open these seven new schools in Mutlaa City is a response to the area’s growing population and the increasing student density there. The new schools will include one kindergarten, two elementary schools (one for boys and one for girls), two intermediate schools (one for boys and one for girls), and two high schools (one for boys and one for girls).

The Jahra Educational Zone will provide the necessary administrative and educational staff, as well as technical equipment and furniture, in cooperation with the relevant authorities, to ensure the schools are fully operational by the start of the second semester of the current academic year. According to informed sources, the schools that opened in the first semester saw a significant increase in student enrollment, with some schools reaching nearly a thousand students. This surge in numbers has led to overcrowding in classrooms and educational facilities.

The population growth and the continued influx of students into Mutlaa schools have prompted the ministry to expedite the opening of additional schools to accommodate the rising numbers and ensure a conducive learning environment. Meanwhile, the Acting Assistant Undersecretary for Special and Qualitative Education Mansour Al-Dhafiri announced that applications for registration in the Charity Fund for the 2024/2025 academic year will begin on Sunday, November 17. In a press release, Al-Dhafiri explained that the Charity Fund will continue to accept applications from students who meet the admission requirements until November 27, 2024.

Applicants may submit their applications at the General Administration of Private Education building in Mubarak Al-Kabeer between 4:00 pm and 7:00 pm, provided they schedule an appointment via the Meta platform.

In addition to the student’s birth certificate and the mother’s ID, applicants must include the student’s original and valid civil ID card, along with a copy. They are also required to provide the father’s original civil ID card and a copy of it, as well as a copy of the student’s civil ID card. Applicants must submit a copy of the student’s most recent educational qualification, which is necessary for admission, along with the original certificate from the school, if applicable, and a recent academic record.

In line with current procedures, the authority overseeing the Charity Fund will conduct a thorough review of the registration lists to ensure the student’s enrollment and continued attendance at the school before disbursing the first and second installments. Al-Dhafiri affirmed the private and qualitative education sectors’ commitment to tighten control over the charitable fund’s operations and ensure greater control over the disbursement process. Furthermore, the Ministry of Education received an official letter from the Ministry of Information regarding advertisements published in an advertising magazine. The letter, signed by the undersecretary of the Ministry of Information, requested an audit of commercial and industrial advertisements featured in the magazine, specifically those promoting private lessons by certain teachers of academic subjects. The letter cited law No. 167/2016, which prohibits the publication of such advertisements.

This is based on article 6, which bans the promotion of commercial advertisements and private lessons, as well as any publications or advertisements that could disrupt the educational system or violate the regulations in place at various educational stages. The letter also emphasized that it is prohibited to prepare, print, or publish books, study materials, advertisements, receipts, or similar commercial content without prior approval from the competent authorities in the ministry. It reminded the ministry about the importance of adhering to official instructions regarding the prohibition of promoting advertisements for private lessons that violate the applicable regulations and laws.

In a different context, the Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Prof. Nader Al-Jalal, conducted an inspection of the sites of the projects of the Public Authority for Applied Education and Training (PAAET). He was accompanied by the Director General of PAAET Dr. Hassan Mohammed Al-Fajjam, the Deputy Director General for Administrative and Financial Affairs Dr. Mishaal Al-Mansouri, the Deputy Director General for Applied Education and Research and acting Dean of the College of Technological Studies Dr. Muhammad Al-Hayyan, the acting Deputy Director General for Planning and Development Dr. Anwar Hassan, and the acting Deputy Director General for Training Engineer Khaled Al-Rasheed, along with other officials responsible for the construction projects.

In a statement issued following the tour, Minister Al-Jalal explained that these projects reflect the government’s commitment to developing a modern infrastructure for applied education and training. They align with the vision to enhance the quality of education in Kuwait and form an essential part of an ambitious national plan aimed at strengthening the education sector to meet the demands of the labor market and support the goals of national development. He explained that the goal of expanding the PAAET’s construction projects in all governorates of Kuwait goes beyond merely increasing the number of buildings.

It is part of a larger vision to ensure that education and training services are accessible to all regions. This expansion aims to promote educational justice, provide equal opportunities for all citizens to access high-quality applied education and vocational training, and empower Kuwaiti youth and equip them with the skills necessary to become leaders in the development process. Minister Al-Jalal said, “Through this initiative, we aim to achieve balanced development in line with New Kuwait 2035 vision, which seeks to build a diversified and sustainable economy by investing in education and enhancing the efficiency of the national workforce.” He explained that the tour was intended to monitor the design and implementation of the new educational facilities, and ensure they meet the highest quality standards.

These facilities are being developed to create an integrated educational environment that meets the needs of male and female students, and provide them with access to modern technologies and advanced training resources. This will enhance their capabilities and prepare them to compete in both the local and international labor markets to support Kuwait’s aspirations to become a regional hub for educational excellence. Minister Prof. Al-Jalal expressed his gratitude to the Director General of PAAET Dr. Hassan Al-Fajjam and everyone who contributed to the completion of these projects, and commended their hard work and dedication. Emphasizing his commitment to closely monitoring the implementation of these initiatives, the minister stressed the importance of careful planning and close cooperation with all relevant parties, so that these projects could serve as a model for the construction of outstanding educational institutions.

He prayed to Almighty Allah for the success of all those involved in completing these projects on time, so that the fruits of their efforts may be realized and added to Kuwait’s achievements in the fields of education and training. In addition, Director General of PAAET Dr. Hassan Al-Fajjam highlighted that many projects have already been completed in various governorates, and work is ongoing to design and implement new projects in emerging areas such as Sabah Al-Ahmad, Mutlaa, Jaber Al-Ahmad, Jahra, and others for meeting the growing demand for educational facilities in these areas.

By Abdulrahman Al-Shammari Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff