KUWAIT CITY, Jan 21:  The Minister of Education, Sayed Jalal Al-Tabtabaei, has issued direct instructions to the relevant sectors within the Ministry of Education to form specialized teams. These teams are tasked with immediately implementing the necessary procedures to collaborate with the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), ensuring that the goals outlined in the joint plan for curriculum development are achieved according to the agreed-upon timetable.

This was confirmed by a press statement from the Ministry of Education on Tuesday, which emphasized the importance of utilizing all available resources to ensure the success of this plan. The initiative aims to build a sustainable education system, improve Kuwait's global ranking, and prepare future generations to meet upcoming challenges.

The statement explained that comprehensive topics were discussed in a previous meeting between the Minister of Education and Dr. Andreas Schleicher, the Director of the Education and Skills Department at the OECD. The meeting focused on a plan that includes ambitious goals to bring about a significant shift in school curricula.

The Ministry indicated that the plan includes establishing an integrated framework for school curricula from grades one to twelve, aligning with international standards and future needs. A detailed study will also be conducted on the current curricula for mathematics, science, and English, and recommendations will be made to improve them based on best international practices.

Additionally, the plan includes developing mechanisms for implementing the teacher licensing test, ensuring the competence of educational staff in collaboration with relevant authorities. Training programs will also be provided to develop teachers' skills in response to recent changes in education systems and curricula. Furthermore, the plan includes conducting a reference study of curricula in mathematics, science, and English for primary, intermediate, and secondary education stages to ensure they meet international standards. The Ministry also aims to identify global examples that Kuwait can adopt in designing its curriculum frameworks.

As part of the collaboration with the OECD, the Ministry of Education has expressed its early readiness to participate in the upcoming PISA study tests, which will include the 2025 cycle. The actual implementation of the tests will begin between 2026 and 2028, with results to be analyzed and announced in 2030. The educational system's development plan will be evaluated based on the outcomes of these tests.

The Ministry also noted that it is working on developing a comprehensive plan according to a well-studied timetable. This plan includes establishing a national educational team dedicated to preparing educational staff and developing the necessary tools and skills to ensure students' readiness for these tests.

The Minister highlighted the main objectives of the plan, including supporting the development of a national curriculum reform strategy for government schools over a six-to-nine-month period. This will be carried out in cooperation with a specialized team from the Ministry and the OECD. Workshops will also be organized, involving both Ministry officials and international experts, to prepare the strategic plan and study successful international experiences in curriculum development.

It is worth noting that the PISA test aims to assess students' abilities in reading, mathematics, and science, as well as their preparedness to apply knowledge in real-life situations.