Kuwait Education Ministry Suspends School Administration After Female Students Suffer Suffocation

KUWAIT CITY, Oct 5 : Kuwait’s Minister of Education Sayed Jalal Al-Tabtabai has ordered the suspension of the administration of a secondary school for three months pending an investigation after several female students suffered from suffocation in an incident at the school.

The Ministry of Education said the decision was taken as part of a series of measures aimed at protecting the students, determining the circumstances surrounding the incident and ensuring the stability and safety of the school environment.

Following the incident, Minister Al-Tabtabai visited the affected students to check on their condition and ensure that they were receiving the necessary medical care. He expressed his wishes for their speedy recovery and complete health and stressed that the health and safety of students remain among the ministry’s highest priorities.

The minister directed that the school’s existing administration be suspended from work for three months while the investigation is conducted. A new school administration has been assigned to take charge of the school, oversee its operations and ensure the continuity and regularity of the educational process during the investigation.

The ministry said the decision was also intended to ensure that the school environment remains stable and that the educational process continues normally while the authorities establish the full facts surrounding the incident.

According to the ministry, initial investigations established the involvement of a number of female students in the incident. As a result, educational and disciplinary measures were taken against the students involved in accordance with the Ministry of Education’s comprehensive regulations governing education and student conduct.

The ministry said the behaviors that were established during the initial investigation were classified as serious behavioral violations, warranting the measures taken against the students under the applicable regulations.

However, the ministry stressed that the investigation has not yet been concluded. Authorities are continuing to examine the causes and circumstances of the incident and to determine the responsibilities of all parties involved.

The ministry said it would take the necessary legal, administrative and disciplinary measures against anyone whose responsibility or negligence is established, in accordance with the applicable regulations, bylaws and the final findings of the investigation.

During his visit, Al-Tabtabai emphasized the importance of continuously monitoring the health condition of the affected students and ensuring their well-being. He also stressed the need for coordination with the relevant authorities to ensure that the students receive all necessary medical and other care.

The Ministry of Education said its actions were aimed at safeguarding female students, reinforcing discipline and accountability, and maintaining a safe and stable educational environment. It stressed that there would be no leniency toward any behavior that could threaten the security of the school community or compromise the safety of students and staff.

The ministry also expressed its appreciation to the Ministry of Health, its officials and the medical teams who responded to the incident and treated the affected students. It praised the speed of the medical response and the care and follow-up provided to the students, saying the response demonstrated the coordination and integration of government institutions in protecting students’ health and safety.

The Ministry of Education reiterated that protecting the safety and security of students, teachers and administrative staff is a fundamental responsibility that cannot be compromised.

It said it would continue following up on the incident until all investigations and procedures are completed and would take whatever additional decisions are necessary based on the findings, to protect students, strengthening discipline and ensuring a safe and stable educational environment.