Kuwait’s Education Ministry will review its policy aimed at replacing expatriate staff, according to a report by the Kuwait Times. Kuwait will fire a maximum of 1,000 expat teachers.
“The ministry will take the advice of the Teachers Association’s demands to be cautious and not rush the Kuwaitisation policy, in addition to not having large numbers on the lists of those dismissed,” the report said, citing sources familiar with the situation. In 2024, According to the sources, the next round of layoffs will take place “after ensuring the availability of qualified national elements and determining the extent of their ability to perform at the same level.”
This is to avoid a “sudden drop” in educational quality, as the current system has “some issues, including the low level of some teachers in schools,” according to the sources. According to the sources, the ministry will “slow down termination decisions unless qualified Kuwaiti, GCC nationals, or children of Kuwaiti mothers are available, and through hiring highly qualified expatriates that the ministry needs.” The sources added that the 1,800 teacher layoffs this year will not be repeated next year, as no more than 1,000 teachers will be laid off.