Education Minister Launches 'Smart School' Project at Jamana bint Abi Talib Secondary School

Minister of Education Eng. Sayed Jalal Al-Tabtabaee inaugurated the “Smart School – Albus” project, in collaboration with Google for Education, on Thursday morning at Jamana bint Abi Talib Girls’ Secondary School, one of the schools implementing the Tracks System. The event was attended by the Assistant Undersecretary for Educational Affairs, Eng. Hamad Al-Hamad, and several senior officials from the Ministry of Education.

The launch of the project at Jamana Secondary School aims to establish an integrated model that combines the “Tracks System,” as one of the initiatives for secondary education development, with the “Smart School” project, which provides a supportive digital learning environment. This integration enables female students to experience a more flexible and interactive education, expands opportunities for research, exploration, and self-directed learning, and contributes to developing digital and future-ready skills.

In a speech marking the occasion, the Minister of Education affirmed that the Ministry is steadfastly continuing its comprehensive reform and development journey for the educational system, working to achieve the desired goals and aspirations in line with the high directives of the political leadership. This progress is supported by the continuous backing and attention afforded to the education sector, which helps elevate the quality of education, enhance its outcomes, and build a modern, sustainable educational system that meets the aspirations of the State of Kuwait and its people.

Al-Tabtabaee clarified that educational development is not tied to a single project or technological tool, but rather relies on an integrated system that combines modern curricula, educational tracks, teacher qualification, school environment development, and technology. This holistic approach places the learner at the heart of the educational process, equipping them with the tools and skills needed to keep pace with future demands.

During his speech, he delivered three key messages to teachers, parents, and administrative staff within the Ministry of Education, emphasizing that the success of any development project requires the integration of roles among all stakeholders in the educational system and a spirit of teamwork.

In his first message, Al-Tabtabaee addressed teachers, affirming the nobility of their mission and the importance of their pivotal role in shaping the future of boys and girls. He noted that teachers remain the cornerstone of development success, regardless of how advanced tools and technologies become, due to their role in guiding learners, nurturing their capabilities, and transforming modern technologies into educational practices with real impact.

In his second message, he addressed parents, affirming that they are essential partners in their children’s educational journey and success. He likened the educational system to a ship sailing toward its developmental goals, steered by a comprehensive partnership between the family on one hand, and the Ministry of Education, teachers, and school administrations on the other, ensuring steady progress toward desired outcomes.

He called on parents to continue supporting their children and providing a suitable home environment that enhances academic achievement and motivates excellence, enabling them to reach the highest academic levels and confidently transition into professional life, contributing effectively to serving their country.

In his third message, Al-Tabtabaee emphasized the importance of the role played by administrative staff in the Ministry of Education in supporting the educational process and providing the necessary organizational and administrative environment for the success of development projects. He stressed that the synergy between the educational field and administrative sectors is a fundamental element in translating reform and development plans into tangible results within schools.

Al-Tabtabaee also emphasized that cooperation and integration among the stakeholders of the education system constitute the cornerstone for achieving the highest goals of education in the State of Kuwait. He extended his highest expressions of gratitude and appreciation to His Highness the Amir of the State, Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah (may God protect and guard him), His Highness the Crown Prince, Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah (may God protect him), and His Highness the Prime Minister, Sheikh Ahmad Abdullah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah (may God protect him), for their continuous support and attention to the education sector. He affirmed that the Ministry of Education is steadily advancing in its development journey, building an educational model that keeps pace with the future and meets the aspirations of Kuwait and its people.

For her part, Monira Al-Adwani, principal of Jamana bint Abi Talib Secondary School, confirmed that hosting the “Smart School” project alongside the implementation of the “Pathways System” represents a comprehensive educational experience that supports the Ministry’s direction toward transitioning from traditional methods to an experience based on research, exploration, interaction, and innovation.

Al-Adwani expressed her pride in Jamana Secondary School being selected to host the project and implement the Pathways System, affirming that the school aspires to present a successful model for the school of the future. This model aims to contribute to knowledge creation and the development of students’ skills, empowering them with modern learning tools that prepare them to meet future demands.

For her part, Lubna Tariq, Director of Digital Transformation at Google for Education, clarified that the “Albus” project is part of a global alliance implemented in more than 15 countries, involving over 4,000 students and 600 teachers, to assess the impact of technology in classrooms.

She noted that field results demonstrated the experience’s ability to save teachers between 5 to 10 hours per week, while increasing student interaction and self-directed learning rates by more than 70%.

The “Smart School – Albus” project launches its pilot phase at Jamana bint Abi Talib Secondary School, coinciding with the school’s implementation of the Pathways System. This provides an opportunity to measure the impact of integrating the developed educational model with modern technology on classroom practices and the learner experience.

The project includes providing Chromebook devices to students and teachers, alongside offering comprehensive training and professional development programs for educational staff. The goal is to enhance the effective use of technology in teaching and to create an interactive educational environment that supports self-directed learning, collaboration, research, exploration, and innovation among learners.

Combining the two projects reflects the Ministry’s direction toward developing the school as an integrated educational unit. Development is not limited to updating curricula or introducing devices and technologies, but extends to improving teaching and learning methods, enhancing teacher readiness, expanding educational options for students, and building a school environment capable of fostering future skills.

Furthermore, the initiative strengthens Kuwait’s regional and international presence by representing the Middle East region within the project’s international alliance. This paves the way for evaluating the impact of technology use within the classroom environment and leveraging the experience’s results to develop educational practices, leading to the gradual expansion of the initiative and the widespread adoption of successful practices in Kuwaiti schools in the future.