KUWAIT CITY, Jan 9: Following the Minister of Education's presentation on the ministry's reform plan, which consists of six key areas, the Council of Ministers has tasked Minister Sayed Jalal Al-Tabtabaei with advancing the plan's efforts and procedures. The Minister is required to submit a periodic report every six months to the Council, outlining the progress made, any challenges encountered, proposed solutions, and a timeline for implementing the plan.

The six axes presented by the Minister during the Council meeting, chaired by His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmed Al-Abdullah at Bayan Palace yesterday, are as follows:

- International Standards for Education (Curricula)

- Education Development

- Engineering

- Ministry Automation

- Initiatives

According to Minister Al-Tabtabaei’s presentation, the administrative and financial axis aims to create a quality guide, minimize budget waste, and direct funds towards educational development and teacher training. The international standards for education axis seeks to strengthen coordination with Gulf, Arab, and international educational organizations.

The education development axis is focused on learning from global best practices in advanced countries such as Finland, Singapore, and South Korea. It also involves the establishment of the Aspire Sports Complex, the issuance of teacher licenses, and the creation of an office for gifted students.

The engineering axis aims to build and prepare smart schools and classrooms while rehabilitating and repairing older schools. The automation axis is focused on improving electronic communication between parents, teachers, and students, as well as advancing e-learning initiatives. Finally, the initiatives axis focuses on the transformation of schools into smart institutions.

In addition to the education reform efforts, the Council of Ministers has tasked all relevant government agencies with cooperating with the Higher Committee for Organizing the Activities of "Kuwait, Capital of Arab Culture and Arab Media 2025." The goal is to overcome any obstacles the committee may face, ensuring the event reflects Kuwait's civilized and cultural identity.

The Council also reviewed a presentation by the Minister of Finance and Minister of State for Economic Affairs and Investment, Noura Al-Fassam, on the monthly report of the National Committee for Combating Money Laundering and Financing of Terrorism. The report focused on the recommendations from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) for Kuwait’s mutual evaluation. The Council reiterated Kuwait's commitment to maintaining its international standing by implementing all necessary measures.

Furthermore, the Council instructed the Minister of Electricity, Water, and Renewable Energy, Dr. Mahmoud Boushehri, to work in coordination with the Minister of Public Works, Dr. Noura Al-Mashaan, to explore optimal uses of treated water in sustainable development projects. These include creating artificial lakes and waterways using treated water, particularly in areas such as “wetland,” to support wildlife and vegetation preservation.