KUWAIT CITY, Feb 10: The Ministry of Education is in the process of finalizing a new regulation aimed at adjusting rental fees for private schools and determining the value of utilizing vacant educational facilities, including classrooms, playgrounds, and cafeterias. According to sources familiar with the matter, these measures are part of ongoing efforts to optimize resource allocation within the education sector.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, an educational insider disclosed to Al-Rai that the proposed regulations are undergoing thorough examination. Once approved, they will be presented to Dr. Adel Al-Adwani, Minister of Education and Higher Education and Scientific Research, for final authorization.

Highlighting some key aspects of the regulation, the source indicated that rental fees could reach up to 300 thousand dinars annually per school in certain cases. Moreover, the Ministry of Education currently oversees 45 government schools utilized as premises for private educational institutions operating under temporary administrative licenses, subject to periodic renewal based on the ministry's evolving requirements.

The source outlined four distinct categories of building utilization by private schools:

1. Private schools utilize buildings owned by licensees.
2. Private schools renting premises from external entities such as individuals or companies.
3. Private schools lease buildings from the Ministry of Finance as part of public state property, under a Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) lease contract arrangement, with revenues collected through the Ministry of Finance.
4. Private schools are repurposing vacant government school buildings, authorized through temporary utilization licenses for educational purposes consistent with their original designation. The associated utilization fees are integrated into the revenue streams of the Ministry of Education.

These regulatory measures signify a concerted effort by the Ministry of Education to streamline the management of educational assets and ensure equitable access to facilities for both public and private educational institutions. The proposed changes aim to foster a more efficient and sustainable framework for educational infrastructure management across the country.