‘Large number of expat teachers planning to resign by mid-March’ – Majority of teachers are Jordanians, Egyptians: sources

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KUWAIT CITY, Feb 16: Ministry of Education has notified the Social Studies Inspection Unit at the Capital Educational Zone to terminate the services of two teachers who were appointed in 2013 such that their official last day on the job will be July 7, according to sources from the education sector.

This information seems to come as a confirmation of a recent report published in Al-Seyassah newspaper under the title “Ministry of Education Terminates Services of 600 Expatriates”. Relatively, the sources indicated that a large number of male and female expatriate teachers, majority of who are Jordanians and Egyptians, are planning for a mass resignation by mid-March.

They revealed that the Jordanian teachers are determined to resign since their current salaries are almost on par with what the Jordanian government pays the teachers. Regarding the Egyptian teachers, the sources said their complaint is concerning their difficult living standard in Kuwait especially in consideration of the reduced housing allowance, hike in rents and general increase in the prices of essential commodities as well as their families back home.

They warned the ministry about acute shortage of male and female teachers very soon, especially for science subjects. They wondered whether the ministry considered the impact on their standard of living before deciding to deduct housing allowance for teachers and whether it has put in place any plan to avoid shortage of teachers by next year.

Meanwhile, Minister of Education and Higher Education Dr Mohammad Al-Fares refuted claims that the ministry has referred for retirement teaching and administrative staff who have worked for over 30 years in kindergarten schools. He said a service period of 34 years is stipulated for retirement, based on directives from the Council of Ministers and the Civil Service Commission, due to which there is no exemption in that case.

In a related story, Assistant Undersecretary for Private and Qualitative Education at Ministry of Education Dr Abdulmohsen Al-Huwaila announced the start of registration for Bedoun Students Aid Charity Fund in private schools. He said the department has received an initial support of KD 200,000 from the Zakat House.

By Rana Salem Al-Seyassah Staff

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