Ministry of Education Launches Phased Plan to Address Surplus of Teaching Staff: Termination of Approximately 7,019 Male and Female Teachers in the First Phase, Comprising Arab and Other Nationalities
Minister of Education M. Syed Jalal Al-Tabatabai has directed the relevant sectors to begin implementing a gradual plan aimed at addressing surpluses in certain specializations and enhancing the efficiency of human resources and financial management, thereby ensuring optimal utilization of personnel and maintaining the stability of the educational process.
In a statement, the Ministry of Education noted that Minister Al-Tabatabai’s directives followed a series of meetings and studies conducted by the relevant sectors to review the status of the educational workforce. These efforts included analyzing the number of teaching staff across various specializations, academic stages, and educational districts, tracking indicators of shortages and surpluses, and identifying current and future school needs. This led to the development of a surplus mitigation plan based on actual data and precise indicators for each specialization.
The Ministry clarified that the total number of teaching staff, excluding those in supervisory roles, stands at approximately 91,761 teachers. National cadres constitute about 70.6% of this workforce, while Gulf teachers and illegally residing individuals account for approximately 10.1%. Teachers residing from Arab and other nationalities make up the remaining 19.3%.
The study results revealed an actual surplus of approximately 33,268 teachers, including Kuwaiti nationals, contracted Gulf staff, illegally residing individuals, and teachers from Arab and other nationalities. This surplus exists in several specializations where the number of employees exceeds the actual needs of schools.
The Ministry emphasized that addressing this surplus will be done gradually and carefully, according to the actual needs of each specialization. This approach aims to ensure a balance in the teaching staff numbers without disrupting schooling or school requirements, while respecting educational process needs and the best interests of students.
The plan began with a first phase involving the termination of services for approximately 7,019 teachers from contracted Arab and other nationalities in specializations where data showed a surplus over actual needs. The relevant sectors have initiated the necessary executive procedures. Affected individuals will be notified of their service termination through the government “Sahel” application, in accordance with approved administrative and legal systems and procedures, ensuring their employment rights are protected.
The Ministry stated that implementing the first phase of the surplus mitigation plan is expected to generate estimated annual savings of approximately 42 million dinars from salary expenditures alone. This will also help recalibrate the teaching staff numbers to align with actual school needs, thereby enhancing the efficiency of human resources and financial management and limiting the accumulation of surpluses in the future.
The Ministry indicated that workforce indicators showed surpluses in several educational specializations across different academic stages. In boys’ schools, the primary stage surplus includes Arabic Language, English Language, Islamic Studies, Art Education, and Music Education. The middle stage surplus covers Islamic Studies, Social Studies, Art Education, Music Education, Electricity, and Decor. The secondary stage surplus includes Chemistry, Philosophy, Geology, Islamic Studies, Art Education, Music Education, and Geography.
Regarding girls’ schools, the primary stage surplus includes Mathematics, Arabic Language, Art Education, Physical Education, and Music Education. The middle stage surplus covers Music Education, Physical Education, Islamic Studies, Science, Mathematics, Arabic Language, and Electricity. The secondary stage surplus is limited to the French Language, with an additional surplus in Music Education at the kindergarten stage.
The Ministry expressed its appreciation and pride for the efforts made by contracted teachers over the years, acknowledging their dedication and contributions to serving Kuwaiti children and supporting the educational journey. It affirmed that the plan’s implementation is part of organizing needs and addressing surpluses in educational specializations based on actual school requirements.
The Ministry commended the sincere dedication and considerable efforts of these professionals, which have positively impacted the educational field and the educational journey in the State of Kuwait. It reaffirmed its appreciation for the role and educational contributions of teachers, which remain a source of pride, while simultaneously working to organize workforce needs according to the requirements of the coming phase.
The Ministry clarified that continuously reviewing the status of the educational workforce and aligning its numbers with shortage and surplus indicators and actual school needs is a central pillar of the plan. This involves precise reviews of teacher numbers in each specialization, academic stage, and educational district, along with periodic updates of shortage and surplus indicators.
It noted that this mechanism aims to prioritize qualified national cadres, link new appointments to actual school needs, and gradually expand the localization of specializations where qualified national cadres are available. Simultaneously, it will continue to rely on expert staff through contracts in shortage specializations lacking sufficient national cadres, thereby meeting the needs of the educational field and preventing new surpluses in the future.
The Ministry stressed that the surplus mitigation plan aligns with its responsibility to empower national cadres, enhance the efficiency of human resources and financial management, and achieve optimal utilization of educational staff. This follows a gradual approach based on data and actual needs, while preserving school stability, educational quality, and student interests, which are the foundation of all decisions and procedures undertaken by the Ministry.
