Deputy Minister of Education: Developing teachers' skills and curricula are two pillars for improving student learning outcomes

Deputy Minister of Education Dr. Khaled Al-Rashid emphasized the importance of developing teachers’ capacities and curricula to improve students’ learning outcomes and enhance their scientific reasoning, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills. This came during Al-Rashid’s participation in the high-level regional dialogue on improving students’ learning outcomes in the Gulf, Middle East, and North Africa region, under the title “Insights from the 2025 PISA Results,” organized by the Arab Bureau of Education for the Gulf Countries in cooperation with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in Riyadh.

In a statement to KUNA, Al-Rashid said that during one of the dialogue sessions, he stressed that teaching students how to think scientifically goes beyond merely adding an activity or experiment to a science lesson. He clarified that the primary goal is to enable students to observe phenomena, pose testable questions, gather evidence, interpret results, and then revise their conclusions in light of the evidence they have obtained. He added that these practices strengthen students’ ability to engage in scientific reasoning and evidence-based thinking, underscoring the importance of linking teachers’ professional development to classroom practice.

He affirmed the need to develop curricula that equip teachers with stimulating questions, experiments, and practical tasks that help nurture students’ scientific reasoning, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills. He noted that investing in teachers’ capacities is a key pillar for improving the quality of the educational process and achieving better learning outcomes.

Al-Rashid outlined the efforts and projects undertaken by the State of Kuwait to develop the education system and enhance the quality of education, including the Teacher Licensing Project, curriculum development, and Gifted Schools. He explained that these projects and initiatives aim to empower teachers with the necessary skills and competencies and to strengthen students’ capacities in line with the requirements of the coming stages.

The event aimed to present the results of international studies at the regional level and discuss ways to leverage the findings of the 2025 PISA study to develop educational policies, as well as to exchange experiences and successful practices among participating countries and organizations, thereby supporting education development pathways and enhancing the quality of educational outputs.

The dialogue saw the participation of representatives from the ministries of education in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, the OECD, the Arab Organization for Education, Culture and Science (ALECSO), the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and its regional offices. The International Institute for Educational Planning (IIEP) in Paris, the Arab Bureau of Education for the Gulf Countries, and a number of regional and international educational organizations and bodies also participated.

The Ministry of Education delegation, in addition to Dr. Al-Rashid, included Badr Al-Shatti, the Arabic language educational supervisor at the Mubarak Al-Kabeer Education Zone.