KUWAIT CITY, Oct 20: The educational sector is witnessing widespread discontent among the College of Basic Education graduates, who specialized in technical and physical education, due to their nomination as administrative supervisors in schools; instead of teachers, as the administrative job does not match their academic qualifications. Sources told the newspaper that the ministry reached an agreement with the Civil Service Commission (CSC) during their meeting a few days before the nomination of a batch of Basic Education graduates -- 650 candidates -- as teachers according to their specializations.

Despite the agreement; the CSC nominated these candidates as administrative supervisors in schools, instead of teachers, sources added. Sources said there is a recurring misunderstanding regarding the employment of graduates of colleges of education; as most of these graduates, particularly those specialized in technical and physical education, expect that they will be nominated to academic posts. Sources indicated that graduates from Egypt and Jordan with these specializations are appointed as administrative supervisors, while the graduates of the College of Education are appointed as teachers. Sources confirmed “the problem is not limited to this category of graduates, as it extends to many other specializations that face the same challenge in finding job opportunities matching their academic qualifications.

Moreover, a number of graduates of the College of Basic Education expressed their dissatisfaction with the current nomination; asserting that the C SC’s nominations do not match their specializations or academic qualifications. They said this is a form of injustice for them. More than one graduate lamented “we have studied and specialized in certain fields for years. Instead of appreciating our qualifications and putting us in the right place, we find ourselves as candidates for jobs that have nothing to do with our specializations.”

They hope that the nomination and employment policies will be reviewed to better reflect their academic qualifications and provide them with job opportunities that are commensurate with their years of study and the efforts they exerted in the specializations they have chosen. They added the concerned authorities in the ministry and CSC must coordinate their efforts in finding plausible solutions to assign graduates to workplaces that are appropriate for their university qualifications and to better serve the labor market

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