KUWAIT CITY, March 16: The Ministry of Education has stopped printing nine textbooks and converted them into electronic versions, as part of its drive towards digital transformation and reducing financial waste. The ministry confirmed that the publication of hardcopy teacher guides has been suspended for the past 11 years.

The Educational Research and Curriculum Sector in the ministry affirmed its commitment to rationalize spending and protect public funds by taking a series of measures aimed at reducing resource waste and ensuring the provision of textbooks according to the actual need of students, without any increase or decrease. The sector explained that book printing goes through a delicate process, beginning with contacting the Planning Department in the Facilities Sector to obtain accurate statistics on the number of students in various educational levels. This is followed by a review by the Supplies and Warehouses Department to monitor the stock of textbooks.

Based on this, the quantities required for printing are determined within the annual printing plan, with a five percent reserve to avoid shortage. As part of its rationalization policies, the ministry indicated that the printing of paper teacher guides has been suspended for 11 years, as they are now available in electronic format only. It stated that these steps are part of the drive toward digital transformation in the educational process, reduce textbook waste, and enhance the use of modern technological tools to keep pace with global developments in the field of education. Following are the nine books that the ministry has stopped printing:
1. Incorporating the Concepts of Life Skills Booklets into the Curriculum
2. Computer Science for the primary and intermediate levels
3. Home Economics for the intermediate level
4. Practical Studies (Electrical and Electronics for Boys)
5. Practical Studies (Electrical and Electronics for Girls)
6. Practical Studies (Decoration for Boys/Girls)
7. Music and Art Education Booklets for the primary level
8. Activity and Application Booklets for Science
9. Exercise Booklets for Mathematics

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