Bad news for expats hoping to teach in Kuwait

Until the present day, Kuwait has been a popular destination for well-qualified and experienced teaching professionals, especially in the field of science. An announcement on Thursday by Kuwait’s head of the Civil Service Commission Ahmad al Jassar is likely to put paid to qualified expat teachers’ hopes for a job in the emirate. The plan put forward outlines the replacement by Kuwaitis of all expatriate teachers working in Kuwaiti schools and universities. The scheme focuses on expat teachers of scientific subjects, 75 per cent of whom are to be replaced by Kuwaitis.

A report in a Kuwaiti English language newspaper states the Civil Service Commission is studying methods to achieve this goal, aided by authorities such as the Ministry of Higher Education’s scholarship management team and administrators from several Kuwaiti universities. As regards hard data on the plan, there seems to be little available at this point, including the sourcing of Kuwaiti teachers with relevant qualifications and experience. No timeline seems to have been suggested, but further information as to replacements is focusing on students already studying science subjects as a source of new employees. Questions about moral and financial support for such students was met with the reply that all proposals will be studied, and improving the working environment so that more post-graduation Kuwaitis would become teachers was given priority.

Sources revealed the rate of teacher training in certain disciplines has reached 100 per cent, but stressed the goal required non-traditional solutions. Some 5,847 new graduates would have to be appointed every month, with a forthcoming announcement reputed to list 2,500 new graduates with either bachelors’ degrees or diplomas as well as a number who have succeeded in Kuwait’s post-secondary school training courses. In addition to expat teachers, Kuwait is cracking down on other expat professionals including accountants, tech sector workers and other public service appointees. Those who are dismissed will have their residency cancelled to ensure they do not apply for other positions in the emirate.