Overview of Education System
Education represents one of the top priorities for development in Kuwait. The Constitution guarantees state education, reflecting the belief that education is a fundamental right for all citizens and an important means of protecting youth from physical, moral, and spiritual neglect. Schooling is compulsory and free of charge for all Kuwaiti citizens ages 6 to 14.1
Kuwait’s Ministry of Education manages a centralized educational system.2 The minister chairs the Supreme Council of Education as the supreme authority mandated to propose, create, and approve implementation strategies for all educational plans and policies.3,4 The undersecretary of the Ministry of Education and 10 assistant undersecretaries report to the minister. Each assistant undersecretary is responsible for one of the following sectors: planning and information, educational development, general education, educational research and curricula, private education, qualitative education, student activities, financial affairs, administrative affairs, and educational establishments.
Education in Kuwait is divided into a governmental sector and a private sector. Private sector schools are classified as English, bilingual, or Arabic. The assistant undersecretary for general education supervises six educational districts, one for each of Kuwait’s administrative regions. A general director heads each educational district, supervising the educational process in public schools and ensuring implementation of educational plans and curricula in the region. The assistant undersecretary for private education manages the general administration of private education, which is led by a general director who monitors the educational process and the implementation of Ministry plans and programs.
There are three basic levels of education in Kuwait: primary (ages 6 to 10, Grades 1 to 5), intermediate (ages 11 to 14, Grades 6 to 9), and secondary (ages 15 to 17, Grades 10 to 12). By the end of primary school, students must be able to apply analytical silent reading to understand a text. Students also should be able to determine the text’s main and supplemental ideas and the author’s intentions, including the message of the text. Students are required to conduct a critical analysis of the text by comparing the characters and selecting their favorite protagonist, express their opinion through supporting evidence, and appreciate new experiences gained from reading.