Latest news with #Balagh
Time of India
02-08-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Kuwait hits 60% milestone in ambitious education reform: Major curriculum and digital upgrades underway
Kuwait's education overhaul, the largest in two decades is 60% complete/Representative Image TL;DR: Kuwait 's Cabinet has approved a comprehensive six‑pillar education reform, led by Health and Education Minister Sayed Jalal Al‑Tabtabaei, with 60% of the plan completed. Core focus areas include curriculum overhaul for Grades 1–9, smart school infrastructure, teacher licensing, and Ministry automation. Kuwait is partnering with the OECD to benchmark curricula, link teacher licensing to PISA 2029 readiness, and raise international standards. After the Cabinet's formal approval in January 2025, Kuwait's six‑pillar education reform led by Minister Jalal Al‑Tabtabaei has now reached 60% completion, according to public statements. This national strategy includes administrative efficiency, curriculum standards, teacher licensing, smart school infrastructure, and digital ministry services, all aligned with Kuwait Vision 2035. Reform pillars and curricular transformation Administrative & Financial Reform Kuwait aims to reduce financial inefficiencies and reallocate budget resources toward educational development, guided by a new ministry structure approved in July 2025. The reorganization consolidates leadership roles, enhances sector coordination, and establishes performance audit systems. Curriculum & International Standards As per Kuwait Times, a full-scale overhaul of grades 1–9 curricula was approved for 2025–2026. About 80% of middle-level subjects have been rewritten, with an integrated national values framework as per Arab Times. This builds on early standards-based reforms and incorporates AI, cybersecurity, and critical thinking. Education Development & Capacity Building The plan includes adopting global best practices from Finland and Singapore, initiating teacher licensing, enhancing gifted education programs, and building smart schools. The creation of a National Center for Training Educational Leaders is also underway. Engineering & Infrastructure Refurbishment of old schools and construction of new smart classrooms are central to infrastructure upgrades. Ten specialized field teams using the Balagh system prepare and audit school readiness. Ministry Automation & Digital Services A new Balagh IT platform enables real-time field reporting, coordination, and maintenance tracking. Audit units conduct surprise inspections to monitor compliance. This digital strategy directly supports governance transparency and operational efficiency. Innovation Initiatives Under this pillar, technological learning tools, digital classrooms, and programming projects are being implemented to modernize pedagogy and promote student engagement. OECD partnership & international alignment Kuwait is finalising a collaboration with the OECD, as announced in March 2025. This framework supports curriculum benchmarking in mathematics, science, and English, plus integration into the PISA 2029 programme, teacher licensure testing, and educational accreditation systems. Minister Al‑Tabtabaei has mandated specialized teams collaborate with international experts, ensuring Kuwait's educational reforms match global quality standards by the end of the decade. Policy context & vision alignment This reform sits within Kuwait Vision 2035, which promotes government accountability, economic diversification, and globally competitive public services. By improving educational quality, Kuwait aims to foster a generation equipped for future global challenges. Earlier reforms backed by the World Bank (2010–2019) laid foundations for competence-based curricula, school autonomy pilots, and institutional accountability, all now scaled up in the current reform phase. Why it matters Education sector reform addresses longstanding issues such as limited secondary graduation rates, over-reliance on rote-learning, and weak alignment with labor-market needs. By integrating international standards and strengthening teacher capacity, Kuwait positions education as a pivotal tool for social and economic transformation. Kuwait's education reform strategy marks one of the most ambitious overhauls in the country's recent history. With 60% of the plan already executed, the transformation is more than cosmetic, it reflects a structural shift in how the nation views learning, governance, and future-readiness. By embracing international partnerships like the OECD, digitizing core ministry functions, and modernizing both curricula and infrastructure, Kuwait is not only addressing decades-old challenges but also setting a new benchmark for Gulf educational systems. However, sustaining this momentum will require more than policy announcements. Successful reform hinges on consistent funding, transparent implementation, measurable performance outcomes, and strong collaboration with educators on the ground. Moreover, the inclusion of 21st-century skills, digital literacy, and global benchmarks is a long-term investment, one whose impact will be seen not just in classrooms, but in the overall social and economic resilience of the country.
Arab Times
16-07-2025
- Business
- Arab Times
Education Ministry unveils new plan to boost performance and cut costs for next academic year
KUWAIT CITY, July 16: The Ministry of Education has unveiled its comprehensive action plan for the upcoming 2025/2026 academic year, with a focus on improving performance efficiency and streamlining spending. In a statement released on Tuesday, the ministry emphasized that the plan was developed in line with directives from Minister of Education, Eng. Sayed Jalal Al-Tabtabaei, as part of ongoing efforts to enhance operational efficiency and rationalize public spending. The plan aims to raise performance standards while ensuring optimal use of resources across the education sector. The statement outlined that the new initiative involves a restructuring of the fieldwork teams responsible for maintaining and equipping school buildings. As part of the overhaul, the ministry has introduced a more effective approach by forming 10 specialized field teams, consisting of 100 engineers, technicians, and department specialists. These teams will play a crucial role in preparing schools for the new academic year. To further improve coordination, the Ministry of Education has established a central team tasked with evaluating the needs of schools and preparing the necessary resources. This core team will be responsible for ensuring that all school administrations are equipped with the required materials and services ahead of the new term. A key innovation in the action plan is the development of a new electronic system designed to link the efforts of the field teams. The specialized software, referred to as Balagh, allows teams to document their activities, monitor progress, and report obstacles in real time. The system generates performance indicators and tracks achievement rates, enabling more informed decision-making. In addition, the ministry is calling on all personnel within the educational sector to actively collaborate with the work teams and submit any observations via the official channels, ensuring that each school meets the highest standards of readiness before the academic year commences. Minister Al-Tabtabaei has also emphasized the importance of transparency and accountability within the process. He instructed the ministry's Inspection and Audit Office to carry out surprise audits, verifying that on-the-ground activities align with the data submitted through the Balagh system. This initiative is aimed at ensuring the highest level of performance quality and compliance with established standards. The ministry reaffirmed its commitment to delivering an efficient and productive academic year that prioritizes the quality of education and the safety of school environments. The goal is to ensure that every school receives the necessary support and resources in a timely manner, paving the way for a successful academic term.
Saudi Gazette
22-06-2025
- General
- Saudi Gazette
Nearly 6,000 new urban heritage sites registered in National Urban Heritage Register
Saudi Gazette report RIYADH — The Saudi Heritage Commission announced on Sunday the registration of 5,969 new urban heritage sites in the National Urban Heritage Register, bringing the total number of registered sites to 34,171. This reflects the richness and diversity of architectural heritage in various regions of the Kingdom. The new registration list included several sites across various regions of the Kingdom. The Riyadh Region has 258 sites; Makkah Region: 483 sites; Qassim Region: 761 sites; Asir Region: 3,893 sites; Al-Baha Region: 499 sites; Hail Region: 60 sites; Jazan Region: 8 sites; Al-Jouf Region: 4 sites; and the Eastern Province: three sites. This registration was made in accordance with regulations related to antiquities and urban heritage, and in accordance with the decision of the Heritage Commission's Board of Directors to delegate the authority's CEO to register urban heritage sites. This is intended to enhance the protection of these sites from encroachment or neglect and ensure their preservation for future generations. The commission emphasized that this step is part of its strategic plan to expand the scope of legal protection for heritage sites and enable their rehabilitation in a way that enhances national identity and highlights their cultural and historical value as living testaments to the Kingdom's architectural heritage. The commission called on all members of society to support its efforts to monitor and register heritage sites by reporting them via the "Balagh" service, communicating with the commission through its official social media channels, or by calling the number of the Unified Security Operations Center 911. The commission emphasized that community participation is a key component in preserving and activating the national urban heritage.
Filipino Times
19-06-2025
- General
- Filipino Times
Saudi Arabia registers over 700 new archaeological sites
Saudi Arabia has officially registered 744 new archaeological sites, the Heritage Commission confirmed. This brings the total number of documented sites in the National Antiquities Register to 10,061 across the Kingdom. According to the Saudi Press Agency, these newly registered sites are spread across multiple regions, led by Riyadh with 253 sites, followed by Madinah with 167, Najran with 86, Tabuk with 72, Aseer with 64, Qassim with 30, Jazan with 23, Makkah with 11, the Eastern Region with 13, Hail with 13, Al-Jouf with 10, and the Northern Borders with 2 sites. This large-scale registration aligns with the Antiquities, Museums, and Urban Heritage Law, established through a Royal Decree, which authorizes the commission's CEO to officially list sites of heritage value. By expanding the register, the commission strengthens efforts to protect, manage, and preserve sites that reflect Saudi Arabia's diverse cultural and historical identity. Authorities stressed that safeguarding heritage is a shared responsibility and called on residents and citizens to report any sites not yet documented through the Balagh platform, the commission's official social media channels, or by contacting the Unified Security Operations Center at 911.
CairoScene
19-06-2025
- General
- CairoScene
744 New Archaeological Sites Registered by Saudi Heritage Commission
Saudi's Heritage Commission has registered 744 new archaeological sites—now 10,061 total—across 13 regions, highlighting efforts to document and preserve the Kingdom's heritage. The Heritage Commission announced the registration of 744 new archaeological sites in the National Antiquities Register, increasing the national total to 10,061. The newly added sites are found in several regions across Saudi Arabia, namely: Riyadh (253), Madinah (167), Najran (86), Tabuk (72), Asir (64), Qassim (30), Jazan (23), Makkah (11), Eastern Province (13), Hail (13), Al-Jouf (10), Northern Borders (2), and the Najran region. These registrations follow the Antiquities, Museums, and Urban Heritage Law (Royal Decree 9/1/1436 AH) and the Heritage Commission's board resolution allowing site registration by its CEO. The move reinforces legal protections and ensures documentation of sites with historical and cultural significance. The Commission stressed the importance of community involvement, urging citizens and residents to report unregistered locations via the Balagh platform, social media, or through emergency contact at 911.
