Latest news with #MansourAl-Dhafiri
Arab Times
18-05-2025
- Business
- Arab Times
Brains meet bytes in GCC education push
KUWAIT CITY, May 18: Kuwait hosted the ninth preparatory meeting of the Undersecretaries of Ministries of Education in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member states on Sunday. This meeting, held prior to the ministerial meeting scheduled for Monday, brought together the undersecretaries of the ministries of education and prominent educational leaders in the Gulf. Acting Undersecretary of the Kuwaiti Ministry of Education Mansour Al-Dhafiri opened the meeting by welcoming the attendees. He underscored the significance of the meeting in bolstering educational integration and cooperation among GCC nations, to fulfil the ambitions of their leaders and the needs of future generations. He affirmed the strong fraternal bond between GCC states and their collaborative efforts towards achieving effective and sustainable educational integration. He pointed out that this preparatory meeting sets the stage for the meeting of the Ministers of Education on Monday, during which the general and higher education issues will be discussed in the context of evolving global challenges. On the other hand, Assistant Secretary General for Economic and Development Affairs at the GCC Secretariat General Dr. Khaled Al-Sunaidi stressed that education plays a vital role in the development of GCC countries. He considers education an important instrument for transforming reality and preparing individuals to navigate future developments and modern technology. He confirmed that the GCC leaders are focusing on education as per their vision to prioritize building innovative, excellent, and competitive generations. He added that the Supreme Council approved the Gulf Strategy for Combating Drugs (2025-2028) during its 45th session in Kuwait in December 2024, indicating it as a key discussion point at the meeting. He revealed the agenda includes some strategic issues as follows: Developing the work of the Arab Bureau of Education for the Gulf States, Following up the work of the Technical Education and Vocational Training Committee, Progress reports on achieving the fourth goal of the Sustainable Development Goals, Promoting financial literacy among students, Supporting scouts and guides, Strengthening international cooperation in the field of education. He went on to point out that technical education and vocational training are witnessing rapid growth in the GCC countries. He revealed the number of licensed colleges, institutes and centers exceeded 1,000; while the number of trainees has reached more than 300,000, reflecting the Gulf efforts in this vital sector. Furthermore, acting Undersecretary of Kuwait's Ministry of Higher Education Lamia Al-Malhem confirmed that higher education in the Gulf countries is experiencing a critical transformational moment; requiring a review of priorities and the development of a new educational model that links education and scientific research, promotes innovation, and takes into account the development requirements in a changing world. She asserted, 'it is no longer possible to rely on traditional paths in higher education in an era where the laws of the future are written in the language of data, while algorithms shape the features of civilizations. Rather, it has become imperative for us to develop a flexible and innovative educational environment and enable students and academics to deal with the challenges of the era, so that we can elevate the educational system to be on par with the regional and international standards.' She also underscored the importance of cybersecurity in higher education; indicating that it is no longer just a technical issue, as it is now 'a national necessity to protect the independence of academic institutions and preserve their research and knowledge resources.' She said protecting academic and research data ensures continued excellence, preserves privacy, protects intellectual property rights, and enhances trust in educational environments. She stated that artificial intelligence is 'an influential force, reshaping the educational process' by providing customized educational models, smart assessments and interactive environments. She asserted that with these rapid transformations, the need for legislative and ethical frameworks to regulate this path and preserve core values has emerged. 'The biggest responsibility lies not in what artificial intelligence produces, but in how we decide to direct it to serve humanity and culture,' she explained. She added that universities are no longer just institutions for graduating students; they must become platforms for innovation and knowledge production through curricula that promote critical thinking, an environment that encourages initiative, and partnerships that link educational outputs with the needs of the labor market and decision-makers. She stressed the importance of Gulf integration in higher education as a 'strategic option to enhance competitiveness and sustain progress;' explaining that this is embodied in mutual recognition of degrees, joint programs, research cooperation, as well as digital transformation through unified educational platforms and electronic libraries, and cyber networks that ensure a safe and effective educational environment. She cited dedication, joint planning and institutional work as keys to success in achieving the aspirations of GCC countries, indicating that 'what we achieve as a unified Gulf group far exceeds what can be achieved individually. The decisions that will emerge from this meeting will have a direct impact on the features of our university education for decades to come.'
Arab Times
27-04-2025
- Politics
- Arab Times
Kuwait mulls earlier school start, Ramadan break adjustment
KUWAIT CITY, April 27: The Ministry of Education is considering an earlier start for the 2025/2026 academic year and plans to include the last ten days of Ramadan as part of the holidays, reports Al-Anba daily. According to educational sources, the ministry is currently working on the academic calendar in coordination with relevant authorities. The plan is to have school administrations begin on September 1, with students returning to school on September 7. This adjustment is being considered to compensate for the holiday during the last ten days of Ramadan, a period the ministry is contemplating suspending. The goal is to allow students and teachers to focus on worship and to promote religious and social values during this special time. Meanwhile, the ministry announced that registration for educational supervisory positions is open from Sunday, April 27 to May 8. Interested individuals can apply through the Ministry of Education's website under the 'Electronic Services' section, specifically the 'Educational Supervisory Positions Services.' In another development, the acting Undersecretary of Public Education Affairs Mansour Al-Dhafiri announced changes to the dates and procedures for the examination control center for the end of the second semester of the 2024/2025 academic year for the twelfth grade, as per Ministerial Resolution No. 115/2025, issued on April 1. Al-Dhafiri explained that the start period for the examination control center has been reduced by approximately 27 days compared to previous years. The start date for the control center for the science, arts, and religious education sections will now be Sunday, April 13, instead of the previous date of Sunday, March 16. The period from April 17 to April 24 was set for the printing and reviewing of twelfth-grade student transcripts by school administrations from the student record system. The period from May 11 to May 15 will be designated for conducting exams for subjects outside the schedule. Grades will be recorded in the student's record, and grade sheets (including daily work, practical work, and exams for subjects outside the schedule) will be printed for review by the school. Vertical technical review sheets for subjects outside the schedule will also be issued and recorded in the school's student record system. On May 19, the student record system will be closed for entering or modifying grades for twelfth-grade students at the end of that day. On May 22, the seat numbers for twelfth-grade students applying for the General Secondary Education Examinations will be announced on the ministry's website. On May 26, the exam committee cards and roll call lists for twelfth-grade students applying for the General Secondary Education Examinations will be made available on the ministry's website by the end of that day. Seat numbers for students applying for the second round of exams will be set on June 30. Al-Dhafiri confirmed that the exams for subjects outside the schedule (Quran, Constitution, and Human Rights) for home-schooled students will be standardized throughout the ministry. He stressed that if any of the unified tenth- and eleventhgrade certificates are unavailable, an equivalency certificate from the Private Education Department's Certificate Equivalency Department must be attached, irrespective of whether the student is studying outside Kuwait or transferred from private (foreign) schools. Also, a curriculum system certificate or the result of the equivalency exam for religious education certificates must be provided if the student is studying at home.
Arab Times
27-04-2025
- Politics
- Arab Times
Kuwait plans to start the school year early and offer a break during the last 10 days of Ramadan
KUWAIT CITY, April 27: The Ministry of Education is considering moving the start of the 2025/2026 academic year forward by one week and suspending classes during the last ten days of the holy month of Ramadan. Educational sources revealed that the ministry is currently working on drafting the academic calendar in coordination with relevant authorities. The current proposal suggests that the school year will begin on September 1st for administrative staff, with students returning on September 7th. The slight advancement of the school year — by one week, aims to make up for the proposed holiday during the last ten days of Ramadan. This proposed suspension of school comes in recognition of the spiritual significance of the final days of the holy month, allowing students and educators to focus on worship and to encourage religious and social values within the community. Sources emphasized that the Minister of Education, Eng. Sayed Jalal Al-Tabtabaei, is committed to creating a supportive environment for both students and educational staff to perform at their best. Meanwhile, the Ministry announced that applications for educational supervisory positions will be open from Sunday, April 27, 2025, until May 8, 2025. Interested applicants can register through the Ministry's website under "Electronic Services – Educational Supervisory Positions Services." In a related development, the Acting Undersecretary for General Education, Mansour Al-Dhafiri, has revised the schedule and work mechanism for the twelfth-grade final exam control process for the second semester of the 2024/2025 academic year. These changes are in line with Ministerial Resolution No. 115/2025, issued on April 1, 2025, concerning examination protocols, grading, and review standards. According to an amendment bulletin obtained by Al-Anba, the start date for control work across scientific, literary, and religious education streams has been pushed to Sunday, April 13—around 27 days later than previous years. Originally scheduled for March 16, this adjustment aims to streamline the process. School administrations are now required to retrieve and review the lists of twelfth-grade students eligible for final exams from the student records system by April 17, replacing the earlier window of April 13 to 24. The period from May 11 to 15 has been designated for conducting exams in off-schedule subjects and for entering corresponding grades into the system. Grade sheets covering daily and practical work, as well as off-schedule test results, will be collected for review at the school level. Technical review sheets will also be issued and recorded in the student record system accordingly. The system will close for entering or modifying 12th-grade grades on May 19. On May 22, student seating numbers for final exams will be uploaded to the Ministry's website. By May 26, committee cards and roll-call lists for students will also be published online. The date for issuing second-round seating numbers has been set for June 30. Al-Dhafiri confirmed that exams for off-schedule subjects such as the Holy Quran and Constitution & Human Rights (for home-school students) will be unified at the ministry level. It is essential that grades for daily, practical, and off-schedule subjects be accurately entered and approved according to the specified timeline to avoid discrepancies when data is transferred to central control. In cases where standardized 10th and 11th-grade certificates are not available, students must submit an equivalency certificate from the Private Education Department. This applies to students who have studied abroad or transferred from foreign/private schools. Religious education students must submit either a curriculum certificate or the result of their equivalency exam. Home-school students must also provide the necessary certification.
Arab Times
14-04-2025
- Climate
- Arab Times
Private schools in Kuwait prepare for dust storm with e-learning
KUWAIT CITY, April 14: In light of weather warnings issued by the Meteorological Department, several private schools have issued urgent directives to their educational and administrative staff to take necessary precautionary measures ahead of the dust storm on Monday, according to an official notice from the department. The directives include activating e-learning via the Teams platform in anticipation of a possible suspension of in-person classes. They also stressed the importance of securely closing windows and doors in school buildings and staying updated on any decisions issued by the Ministry of Education in this regard. The Meteorological Department previously issued a notice stating that Kuwait will be affected by a dust storm starting at 10:00am on Monday, April 14 until April 15. The department forecasted a significant drop in horizontal visibility, potentially falling below 1,000 meters and even reaching zero in some areas. Strong winds are expected, shifting from southerly to northwesterly, with speeds possibly exceeding 60 km/h, resulting in rough seas and high waves. Some private schools have urged the community to closely follow official alerts and comply with preventive measures to ensure the safety of students and staff in educational institutions. Meanwhile, the final exams for intermediate students (Grades Six to Nine) in private and specialized educational institutions for the 2024/2025 academic year will be from May 21-29, 2025 as per the schedule approved by the Ministry of Education. Acting Assistant Undersecretary for Private and Special Education Mansour Al-Dhafiri released the schedule, detailing the exam dates and timings for core subjects in each grade. All exams will start at 8:00 am and most of them will end at10:15 am; while some will end at 9:45 a.m, depending on the grade and subject. The first day of exams will include Mathematics for Grade Six, Science for Grade Seven, Arabic for Grade Eight and English for Grade Nine. Students are required to wear their school uniform and bring the necessary equipment for the exams. Any form of cheating or disruption will result in disciplinary action.
Arab Times
04-03-2025
- Politics
- Arab Times
Shortage of Male Math Teachers in Kuwait Schools
KUWAIT CITY, March 3: The Ministry of Education is facing a growing challenge -- a significant shortage of male Mathematics teachers at various educational levels. This issue has prompted the ministry to explore comprehensive and radical steps to address the shortage and ensure the efficient continuation of the educational process. Acting General Supervisor for Mathematics Dalal Al- Hajraf has submitted a proposal to acting Undersecretary of the ministry Mansour Al-Dhafiri, stating four primary solutions to address the problem. One of the main suggestions is increasing the allowances for supervisors, such as the head of the Mathematics Department and the technical supervisor, with the condition that these allowances will be revoked if the individual is transferred to an administrative position. The proposal also suggests increasing financial support for male students pursuing Mathematics major at Kuwait University, to attract more male students to this field. Furthermore, it recommends opening the Mathematics major at the College of Education to Gulf students and children of Kuwaiti women married to non-Kuwaitis, to compensate for the lack of male students in this field. Lastly, the proposal advocates for the acceptance of civil engineering graduates as candidates for Mathematics teaching positions to expand the pool of candidates for such a vital academic post. Al-Hajraf disclosed that field observations have shown a continuous decline in the number of male Kuwaiti Mathematics teachers at all educational levels. 'This trend signals a potential crisis in the coming years, particularly in supervisory roles such as department heads and technical supervisors. There has been a noticeable decrease in the number of Kuwait University graduates specializing in Mathematics, as well as a growing reluctance among students to pursue this specialization,' she explained.
