From memories of old guard

15/06/2025

IN February 1939, the “National Jaafari School” was inaugurated as the first public charitable private school and the third public school in Kuwait’s history. Despite the sectarian connotations of its original name, the school was entirely moderate. It did not teach Shia jurisprudence specifically; rather, its doors were open to all students, regardless of sectarian affiliation. During the Iran-Iraq War, the school’s name was changed to “The National School.”

Ahmad Mohammad Hussein Marafie was the visionary behind the establishment of the school and was the first to donate and lead fundraising efforts for its founding. In the 1950s, ownership and licensing of the school were transferred to the late Mohammad Rafi Marafie, who took on the responsibility of covering any budget deficits.

After his passing, these responsibilities were passed to his son, the well-known businessman Abdullah Marafie, who, along with the Marafie family, continued to finance any financial shortfalls the school encountered. The “National School” was distinguished by the quality of its education, and remains so to this day. Its academic approach was notably serious, with particular emphasis on subjects such as Mathematics, Arabic, and English. As students in public schools, we often noticed the academic excellence of students who had transferred from the National School, especially in these core subjects.

In its early years, the National School offered elementary education free of charge to children from underprivileged families. Unlike Al-Mubarakiya School and Al-Ahmadiyya School, the National School continues to operate nearly ninety years after its founding. What refutes any claim of sectarianism at the Jaafari School are the names of the distinguished educators who taught there, or were educated there themselves, including professors Fahd Al-Mousa, Duaij Al-Aoun, Mohammad Al-Nashmi, Abdul Latif Al-Omar, Abdul Latif Al-Falah, Khaled Al-Masoud, Abdulaziz and Moajab Al-Dousari, Abdulaziz Al-Balool, Saud Al-Kharji, Abdullah Al-Hindi, Mulla Issa Al-Matar, Mulla Rashid Al-Saif, Abdul Wahab Hashim Al-Badr, and many others.

Among its notable students were His Highness the Amir of Kuwait Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, along with his brothers Sheikh Khaled and Sheikh Nawaf. The National School also educated prominent figures such as Jaber and Salem Al-Ali, Salem, Abdullah, and Ali Sabah Al-Nasser, as well as Malik, Yousef, Mubarak, and Ali Al-Malik, Mubarak Abdullah Al-Jaber, and Nasser Sabah Al-Nasser. Other notable alumni include Issa Al-Yousefi, Aqeel Yaqoub Behbehani, Mohammad Musaed Al-Saleh, Thabet Mohammad Al-Muhanna, Ismail Bahman, Hassan Tifuni, Hamed Amin (the singer), and thousands of others.

The late Ruler, Sheikh Ahmed Al- Jaber, was the first prominent figure to donate to the establishment of the school, and he enrolled several of his sons as students. The National School came under the supervision of the Ministry of Education in 1978, with Salah Al-Din Al- Qadoumi appointed as its first principal. One of the school’s foundational figures was the Jordanian teacher Mohammad Hassan Odeh, who joined the school as a teacher sixty years ago. Over the years, he held several key positions, including serving as General Manager of the Knowledge Company for Educational Services.

By Ahmad alsarraf
email: a.alsarraf@alqabas.com.kw