KUWAIT CITY, Jan 9 : The Ministry of Education (MoE) had announced in mid-November the naming of seven new schools in Mutlaa Residential City, with plans to open during the second semester of the 2024/2025 academic year. However, the educational field was recently taken by surprise with the decision to postpone the opening of these schools until the next academic year of 2025/2026 based on the needs and priorities of the educational field. In a letter sent to the assistant undersecretary for Public Education, the undersecretary of the Ministry of Education explained that the new schools, which are affiliated with Jahra Governorate, will not open as originally planned.

Instead, their operation has been deferred to the first semester of the next academic year. The ministry urged that the issue be given due attention and the necessary measures be taken in this regard. In this regard, educational sources explained that the decision to postpone the opening of new schools in Mutla’a Residential City comes despite the huge challenges faced by the current schools in the area. These schools are experiencing high student densities that exceed the maximum permitted capacity for a semester.

Decision While a previous ministerial decision set the maximum number of students per class at 25, classrooms in Mutlaa are currently overcrowded with more than 45 students. This hinders teachers from performing their educational duties effectively and negatively impacts students’ ability to engage and communicate with their teachers. School administrations have submitted reports to state that some schools in Mutlaa are serving over a thousand students, despite their design capacity being only half that number. This overcrowding has led to an increase in behavioral issues and placed immense pressure on both school administrations and teachers.

The sources have expressed concern over the decision to postpone the opening of new schools in Mutla’a Residential City, questioning how it aligns with the best interests of the educational system. They said the new schools were expected to ease the burden of overcrowded classrooms and help alleviate the high student densities in the region. Observers suggest that the delay may further strain the existing schools, which are already struggling with overcrowding, and that the decision could hinder efforts to improve the quality of education and ensure a stable learning environment. The Ministry of Education had previously announced the opening and naming of seven new schools in the region, which included one kindergarten, two elementary schools for boys and girls, two intermediate schools for boys and girls, and two secondary schools for boys and girls. The sources said the Jahra Educational Zone was tasked with equipping these schools, including providing administrative and educational staff, the necessary technical equipment, and furniture.