Al-Maqawi Recalls Moments from the History of Education at 'Al-Muthanna School'

At the outset of his remarks, Al-Maqhouwi stated that Al-Muthanna School is one of Kuwait’s historic and long-standing educational institutions, originally located on Fahd Al-Salem Street. He clarified that it was initially an elementary school before being demolished in the 1970s, with the Al-Muthanna Complex subsequently built on its site.

Al-Maqhouwi added that he completed his elementary education at this school and holds fond memories of it. He noted that he made a conscious effort to recall and document these memories in his book, saying, “I included all these memories in the book and wrote them down,” so they would become part of the place’s memory and educational history, and serve as a recollection of a life stage linked to the beginning of his academic journey.

In the book, he addressed an important phase in Kuwait’s educational history, shedding light on the beginnings of formal education, the private initiatives that contributed to the establishment and development of schools, and the role of national figures and merchants in supporting the educational endeavor. The work also documents the names of principals, vice-principals, teachers, and students.

Al-Maqhouwi outlined the circumstances preceding the launch of formal education in Kuwait, explaining that with the dawn of the 20th century, during the reign of Sheikh Mubarak Al-Sabah, commercial activity expanded significantly between India and the African coast. Pearl trading became highly significant in Kuwait, creating a need to teach the country’s children reading, writing, arithmetic, and bookkeeping, thereby facilitating the organization of commercial operations and the distribution of shares among workers on diving vessels.

The book highlights private initiatives alongside contributions from several merchants who provided generous donations to support education in Kuwait, paving the way for the opening of Al-Mubarakiya School on December 22, 1911. Sheikh Youssef bin Issa was appointed as the school’s first principal.

He explained that the book comprises five chapters covering the beginnings of education in Kuwait, Al-Muthanna School, principals, vice-principals, and teachers, the names of teachers and students, and references. It aims to present a well-documented historical account that preserves a segment of Kuwait’s educational memory and highlights the efforts of pioneers who contributed to building its educational foundation.

The lecture was followed by a book signing event, where attendees had the opportunity to view the publication and learn about its contents. The event reflected the Kuwait Heritage Society’s interest in documenting national history and highlighting the figures and milestones that contributed to shaping Kuwait’s cultural and educational identity.