The oil boom in Kuwait in the 1950s marked the biggest economic and social changes in the country. The opulence that the oil brought changed the way people lived their lives, from an economy which relied mainly on pearling, to a more comfortable and sedentary urban lifestyle. This trend was also translated to the system of education in the country. Before the oil boom, there were only few schools established in Kuwait. Al Mubarakiyya was the first modern educational institution in the country. Established in 1912, it was supported by the merchants primarily to have people working for them, such as clerks who knows the basic in commerce, arithmetic skills, and writing correspondence (Education Foundation). Art courses subjects were later on integrated to the curriculum, as well as history and geography. In 1921, Al Ahmadia School opened and was the first school to offer English (Education Foundation). This was followed by the first school for the girls which taught in Arabic and included home economics and Islamic studies in its curicullum (Education Foundation). When the pearling industry declined in the 1930s, education was placed under the control of the state in 1935, and thus gave way to the beginning of public education (Educational System). From then on started the establishment of modern education in Kuwait.
The primary goal of education in the State of Kuwait is to develop citizens who think and act as they take part in both their personal and public lives. Education is a right that all citizens can enjoy and in the process, build and develop their optimum performance in the economical, institutional, cultural, economic, and social levels in the society (UNESCO). In a nutshell, education in Kuwait is a tool that will establish the balance in the state’s goal to protect its cultural identity while arming its people with the basic skills needed for practical life and to face the challenges brought on by the advances in technology.
The education system is operated by the Ministry of Education, which is responsible in supervising school education, and the Ministry of Higher Education which is in charge of the higher education and supervises the Universty of Kuwait and the Public Authority for Applied Education and Training (UNESCO). The Ministry of Social Affairs and Labour, on the other hand, manages the private nurseries and kindergartens. Cooperation between the educational institutions and various ministries created institutions that would offer free education for all that comes with training programs. One of the said institutions was the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs, with it Department of Islamic Studies offering both male and female citizens who are 14 years old and above to learn Islamic studies for free. The curriculum offers classes in Islamic studies, basic mathematics and sciences, history, the Arabic language, and literature (UNESCO). One notable body in the field of education is the National Committee in Support of Education. The body is composed of experienced educators and other notable personalities in Kuwait working together to raise the standard of education in the state and push for educational projects that would encourage students and teachers to move towards educational institutions. It is through these groups and organizations that the educational system of Kuwait is able to function effectively.
A child’s education in Kuwait starts with the primary education. It is offered for free as the goal the state is to provide enough free education for all children that goes beyond gender, social class, or special needs (Class Base). Children start with the pre-school orientation before they are separated acording to gender in primary school which starts at the age of 5. Children then complete their primary school for five years. This is followed by intermediate schooling where they are again put back to a co-educational environment. Students study under a fixed academic curriculum in their preparatory education which they finish after four years. After which, they are awarded the intermediate school certificate that permits them to move on to secondary schooling which goes on for three years. In Kuwait, secondary education is voluntary but free, wherein students follows the same curriculum for three years as this part of their education determines their education in the tertiatry level. After the secondary education, students are offered the option to go through vocational training which are offered all throughout a citizen’s life by the state public authority. The state highly suggests to its citizens to avail themselves of this education as this would give them advantage for the skilled work force and their own self-actualization (Class Base).
The pre-primary education aims to develop the children’s physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, and social skills that would suit their abilities and needs (UNESCO). In the primary education, the goal is to establish the spirit and mind of the learners, as well as encourage the development of their personality that follows the principles and concepts integrated in the Muslim religion. Subjects taught in the primary education are Islamic education, the Arabic language, the English language, Science, Mathematics, Social studies, Physical education, Fine arts, and Music (UNESCO). The intermediate or preparatory education aims to hone students’ abilities as they prepare for secondary level. Subjects taught in this level are meant to inculcate their national identity, learn technical knowledge, experience in practical matters, and develop their capacity to think creatively. These subjects include the Arabic language, social studies, basic science, mathematics and English. Secondary education, on the other hand, are geared towards training the students to prepare for the university and higher education. Subjects taught in the secondary education include Islamic education, Arabic language, the English language, French language, Mathematics, Sciences, Social studies, and Pratical studies. Under the Sciences, subjects include the integrated sciences, Biology, Geology, Physics, Chemistry, and Scientific knowledge. Social studies include history, geography, economics, sociology, psychology, and philosophy, while under the practical studies are computer studies, physical education, and home economics.
References
Classbase. Education System in Kuwait. Foreign Credits. Retrieved from
http://www.classbase.com/Countries/Kuwait/Education-System
http://education.stateuniversity.com/pages/784/Kuwait-EDUCATIONAL-SYSTEM-OVERVIEW.html
UNESCO. World Data on Education, 7th Edition, 2010-11. Retrieved from
http://www.ibe.unesco.org/sites/default/files/Kuwait.pdf
