Minister of Education :
Nouriya Subeeh Barrak Al-Subeeh
Website : www.moe.edu.kw
Established in 1962, the Ministry of Education is one of
the largest ministries with about 50,000 employees. The
Ministry aims at updating and developing educational and
teaching methods to ensure education to all citizens of
Kuwait.
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Education in Kuwait is imparted at four different levels:
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kindergarten, with a duration of
two academic years |
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primary, with a duration of four
academic years |
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Intermediate, with a duration of
four academic years and |
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secondary, with a duration of four
academic years |
Primary education is a fundamental right and is free and compulsory
for all Kuwaitis. The education system in Kuwait can also be divided
into three categories: Public, Private and Qualitative.
Public education
As per the data of academic year 1998-1999, there were 148 kindergartens,
179 primary schools, 164 intermediate schools and 117 secondary
schools in Kuwait.
Private education
Private education was originally established to accommodate foreigners
working in the country accompanied by their families. The following
categories of schools fall under the umbrella of private education:
Arabic private schools, foreign private schools (British, American,
Indian etc), and cultural institutes (specialising in training,
vocational and career studies).
The Arabic private schools receive support from the government
and are run according to the academic requirements of the State
of Kuwait. Foreign schools are run according to the academic curriculum
of the country they emulate, but under the supervision of the
Ministry of Education. The Ministry has made it mandatory for
these schools to provide courses in Arabic language, Islamic religion,
and history, geography and culture.
Qualitative education
Qualitative education can be further subdivided into the following
segments:
Religious education |
It consists of the intermediate
and secondary levels. There were 81 religious institutes in
1998-99. |
Special education |
The Ministry provides special education
to handicapped and disabled children in the State. |
Adult education |
Adult education focuses primarily
on the obliteration of illiteracy among adults. The rate of
illiteracy continues to decrease. |
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