Kuwait's education reform plan 60% complete: Minister
KUWAIT: Kuwait's ambitious 2025–2027 Education Reform Plan is over 60 percent complete, according to the Ministry of Education, with major milestones already in motion — including the launch of a new office for gifted students and the finalization of a revamped national curriculum for kindergarten through Grade 9.
The updates were presented this week by Minister of Education Jalal Al-Tabtabaei during a meeting at Bayan Palace chaired by His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmad Al-Abdullah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah. Al-Tabtabaei outlined the reform plan's six pillars — administrative, financial, engineering, education development, digital transformation, and international standards — which together include 39 strategic goals, 61 percent of which have already been achieved. He stressed that the plan is 'progressing according to a well-studied timeline.'
Gifted students office
One of the key initiatives is the creation of a dedicated office for gifted students, which the minister described as 'a platform to discover and develop student potential and provide a learning environment that fosters creativity.' The new office is part of the broader education development track, which also includes integrating AI and cybersecurity into Grade 10 computer science classes and updating teaching approaches to meet future learning needs.
Earlier this week, the ministry confirmed it has completed 88 textbooks for the upcoming curriculum: 2 for kindergarten, 46 for primary, and 40 for secondary levels. The books are now undergoing final language and design checks ahead of printing.
To reduce the burden on students, textbooks will be divided into four smaller parts spread across the academic year, starting in 2025–2026. The curriculum also includes 21st-century skills like critical thinking, self-learning, and problem-solving, with inclusive content tailored for different student needs. Training programs to prepare teachers for the new curriculum will begin ahead of the next academic year and will be offered both in person and online.
The minister stressed that the education reform plan is progressing on schedule, 'with a commitment to applying best administrative practices to ensure a quality shift in public education in the State of Kuwait.'
The meeting was attended by Sheikh Khaled Mohammad Al-Khaled Al-Sabah, Acting Chief of the Prime Minister's Diwan, Acting Undersecretary of the Ministry of Education Mohammad Ghaleb Al-Khalidi, and several senior education officials. — KUNA
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