Distance education optional, fees must be paid at end of school year, says MoE

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Regulations laid down for e-learning

KUWAIT CITY, April 2: Amid clear and unmistakable signs that the Ministry of Education was under ‘unparalleled’ pressure from the ‘private schools cartel’ over the ‘distance education’ file, the Private Education Sector presented its perception on the mechanism and controls for implementing distance education, reports Al-Seyassah daily.

A source disclosed this happened in the recent meeting of the Educational Affairs Committee in the National Assembly with Assembly Speaker Marzouq Al-Ghanim, Minister of Education and Higher Education Dr Saud Al-Harbi and senior ministry officials in attendance.

He said the concept will be presented to the Cabinet in order to amend the decision to suspend classes, such that distance education is allowed, but it will be optional for students rather than compulsory.

Meanwhile, Assistant Undersecretary for Private Education in the Ministry of Education Dr Abdul Mohsen Al-Huwaila confirmed the completion of special regulations for distance education for private schools that were approved by the ministry in the preliminary form.

These regulations were presented to the Council of Ministers after consulting the representatives of private schools and subsequently tabled for discussion in the parliamentary Education Affairs Committee, he revealed.

He explained the ministry is keen on activating e-learning electively, so it is not binding according to the regulations it will set for private schools. He pointed out the most prominent rule is leaving the choice to the student. He said the student and his guardian have the option to complete distance learning and end the academic year or choose a compensatory study plan, which will be initiated before the beginning of the new academic year.

It will be laid down for students that will not enroll in e-learning and will be meant for those in the public education sector, provided the student is unwilling to apply or enroll in e-learning. He confirmed the ministry has laid down regulations for e-learning, among which is that tuition fees are not paid until the end of the school year and after the issuance of the certificate.

No one is allowed to request for fees during this period even if the date of installment comes or if there are late installments, he added. He pointed out that the plan itself obliges private schools to submit a study plan every three months according to e-learning rules which will be approved by the ministry.

Therefore, it is not permissible for the owner of a private school to develop a plan for e-learning as it should be done only after obtaining approval from the ministry and after the issuance of a Cabinet decision.

He stressed that private schools will be required to send the study plan to the Private Education Sector for approval and activation, so the ministry has the right to monitor without any additional fees for electronic activation or for the compensatory period. He noted that any attempt by these schools to claim they have activated e-learning and specify the cost will not be entertained. He added: “We stated the plan clearly and decisively.”

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