KUWAIT CITY, Dec 10: Amal Al-Ali, the General Director of Libraries and Research Methods at the Ministry of Education, has highlighted a significant scarcity of library and information science teachers in secondary schools. According to Al-Ali, there are currently only 22 male and 17 female teachers serving in 140 secondary schools.

In a communication addressed to Hessa Al-Mutawa, the acting Assistant Undersecretary for Public Education, Al-Ali underscored the urgent need to guide faculty members in addressing the shortage. She emphasized the importance of providing support for the subject of preparing scientific reports, which is offered as a free-choice option. This subject plays a crucial role in complementing compulsory subjects and fulfilling graduation requirements for students at the secondary school level.

Al-Ali stressed the necessity of opening up opportunities for the appointment of new teachers specializing in libraries and research methods. This becomes particularly pertinent as the Ministry is considering incorporating the subject into the curriculum of new educational tracks. Al-Ali suggested that opening the door for appointments could involve tapping into the national pool of graduates with expertise in library and information sciences from the College of Basic Education.

The shortage of library teachers has been attributed to some educators being promoted to the position of assistant principal, while others have taken on different roles, contributing to the current deficit in this critical educational domain.