28/12/2020
28/12/2020
18 schools for special kids to reopen with 50 pct capacity
KUWAIT CITY, Dec 28: The Ministry of Education, in coordination with the Higher Health Committee, has decided to work on bringing back about 330 teachers among those who are stranded by issuing new entry visas for them. At the same time, the ministry is also seeking to end the services of about 600 teachers who are stuck abroad and who work in educational specialties that have surplus teaching staff, reports Aljarida daily. According to informed sources, the Public Education sector has finished listing the names of teachers who are stranded overseas and work in educational specialties with surplus teaching stuff. Their number is about 600 teachers in specialties such as computer, interior decoration, electricity, and Islamic education. This is in addition to other specialties for which teachers can be obtained through local contracts with citizens, children of Kuwaiti women, Gulf citizens, and Bedoun residents. During the last phase, the sector requested the educational zones to specify the names of teachers who work in specializations with surplus teaching staff, as teachers were available locally to work in these specializations.
Stuck
The number of teachers who are stuck overseas decreased during the last period when the airport opened and transit flights were allowed. The number decreased from 5,000 to about 1,000 teachers now. About 330 teachers are in specializations that suffer from a shortage of national cadres such as mathematics, chemistry, physics and English language. The ministry will coordinate with the concerned authorities in the country to issue special entry visas for them to return them to work. It will address CSC for an opinion concerning the stranded teachers whose services it wants to end, to arrange the process of issuing their decisions, and figuring out a way to disburse their dues, which is likely to take place through the Kuwaiti embassy in their countries. Meanwhile, in a step towards returning to normalcy Dr Shafika Al-Awadi, Director General of the Public Authority for Disabled Affairs, revealed approval has been given for the reopening of 18 schools for people with disabilities and these schools will start receiving students in accordance with health requirements.
Schools
Al-Awadi said in a press conference, the tripartite committee consisting members from ‘people with disabilities, and the ministries of Education and Health, has agreed to reopen these schools after paying a visit to these schools and going through the reports issued by the inspection team. She added, four other schools will be opened after making what she called ‘some modifications’. Al-Awadi mentioned that work in all schools will be for 50% of students, and indicated that among the conditions set by the team is to obtain the guardian’s approval in writing to bring his child to school and his consent to adhering to full health requirements. She explained plans have been put in place to deal with each student individually -- the steps have blessing of the Ministry of Health for the commitment of school owners to the specific health requirements. She emphasized work is in progress to reopen nurseries for children with disabilities by forming teams of concerned authorities.
By Faris Al-Abdan Al-Seyassah Staff and Agencies