Ministry of Education Organizes Transfer of Arab Students to Non-Arabic-Speaking Classes in Foreign Schools

Alaa Khalifa: The Minister of Education, M. Syed Jalal Al-Tabtabaee, issued a ministerial decision regarding the regulation of the conditions and procedures for transferring Arab students to classes for non-Arabic-speaking learners (AFL) in schools with foreign curricula. The decision organizes the procedures for submitting, reviewing, and approving applications, and specifies the eligible cases and required documents to complete the transfer process.

The Ministry of Education stated in a press release that the decision outlined several cases in which an Arab student may be transferred to classes for non-Arabic-speaking learners. These include children of diplomats, Arab students with a non-Arabic-speaking mother, and students who have resided outside the State of Kuwait for at least three years without having previously studied in Arabic schools. It also covers students who possess a learning disability report certified by the Public Authority for Persons with Disabilities, along with a report from the relevant committee assessing their language proficiency. Additionally, students who have previously received approval to join classes for non-Arabic-speaking learners are included.

The Ministry clarified that the submission and tracking of transfer requests are conducted electronically via the Ministry’s website, on the AFL platform. The process begins with the parent or guardian submitting a transfer request for the student and attaching the required documents and certificates. The request is then electronically referred to the General Directorate of Special Education to complete the review process, verify compliance with the conditions, and obtain the necessary approvals in accordance with established procedures.

The Ministry added that the status of the application is displayed electronically to the parent or guardian through the system after the review, approval, and authorization processes are completed. The approval certificate is then sent electronically to the relevant school, paving the way for completing the transfer procedures and registering the student in classes for non-Arabic-speaking learners.

The Ministry of Education noted that organizing these procedures electronically is part of its efforts to facilitate services provided to parents and to streamline the entire application cycle from submission through review, approval, and authorization. This approach saves time and effort while enhancing procedural efficiency.

The Ministry stated that when submitting a request, the parent or guardian must attach copies of the father’s and mother’s passports, a copy of the student’s civil ID, the student’s last two academic transcripts, and a “To Whom It May Concern” certificate from the school where the student is currently enrolled. Additionally, the parent or guardian must sign a declaration and commitment accepting responsibility for any consequences arising from the student’s failure to study the Arabic language curriculum.

The Ministry emphasized that the decision set a time frame for submitting transfer requests. A student who meets one of the specified conditions is entitled to submit a transfer request to non-Arabic-speaking classes only within one academic year from the date of enrollment in a foreign school within the State of Kuwait. Acceptance for transfer to these classes is limited to students starting from the fourth grade of primary school and subsequent grades.

The Ministry of Education further stressed that organizing the mechanism for submitting and reviewing transfer requests aims to ensure procedural clarity and verify that applicants meet the specified conditions and regulations before approval. It also allows parents to track the application status electronically and complete procedures with the school after approval is issued, without the need for in-person visits.

The Ministry informed that the decision also annuls all previous decisions and circulars that conflict with its provisions, and that its provisions shall apply from the date of its issuance by all competent authorities.