KUWAIT CITY, Nov. 30: Kuwait’s Ministry of Education is preparing to fully Kuwaitize all educational supervisory positions by the end of the current academic year, in line with government directives restricting these roles to Kuwaiti nationals, according to official sources.

Sources in the Education Ministry revealed that the plan, led by Minister of Education Sayed Jalal Al-Tabtabaei, aims to strengthen the presence of national cadres across the academic sector, particularly in supervisory roles. The initiative calls for replacing non-Kuwaiti subject supervisors and heads of departments — whether expatriates or Gulf nationals — with Kuwaiti educators beginning in the 2026/2027 academic year.

The sources noted that the ministry’s Kuwaitization efforts come in compliance with the Civil Service Commission's decisions designating supervisory roles as exclusive to Kuwaiti citizens and in support of national education development plans that seek to reinforce national identity among students.

According to the sources, the ministry is currently compiling data on the number and job titles of non-Kuwaiti educational supervisors. The information will help determine the next steps, which are expected to include terminating the services of non-Kuwaitis and reappointing some of them as teachers in subject areas where a clear need exists. The objective, they said, is to ensure supervisory opportunities are reserved for qualified Kuwaiti teachers.

The ministry is also working on determining the number of vacancies that will be created or added to accommodate Kuwaiti educators who pass the upcoming promotion tests for supervisory positions. These candidates are expected to assume their new roles at the start of the next academic year.

Additionally, the Ministry of Education has begun implementing Decision No. 2025/116, issued by the Minister of Education, which outlines a new mechanism for filling supervisory roles. The criteria include years of experience, training courses completed, participation in specialized programs, and passing required assessments. The decision aims to enhance leadership skills in supervisory positions, improve the efficiency of nominations, and attract candidates capable of advancing educational institutions in line with Kuwait Vision 2035.

Applications for supervisory roles were received electronically beginning April 27, with applicants given an opportunity to update their documents during the current week. Sorting of applications is expected to begin shortly.

Meanwhile, the Civil Service Commission has instructed government entities to urgently establish Kuwaitization committees to oversee the implementation of replacement policies and monitor adherence to annual Kuwaitization targets within each agency.