Kuwait's Education Minister: Scouting Movement a Key Educational Partner in Building Youth Initiative and Teamwork
Kuwait City, Kuwait, Oct 4 (KUNA) – Kuwait’s Minister of Education, Sayed Jalal Al-Tabtabaee, said on Sunday that the Scout Movement has since its inception constituted an important field in shaping youth, equipping them with skills, and fostering initiative, teamwork, and community service.
Speaking at the opening of the conference “The Scout Movement Between Volunteering and Economic Activity,” organized by the Kuwait Scout Association under his patronage, Minister Al-Tabtabaee stated that the Scout Movement is today called upon to continue its role and develop its tools in line with changing circumstances, ensuring the sustainability of its mission.
He clarified that the conference, running until October 7 and held in cooperation with the Arab Parliamentarians Scout Union and the Arab Scouts Union, addresses a crucial topic concerning the future and sustainability of scouting. It opens the floor for participating leaders and experts to exchange views and experiences on ways to develop scouting activities and enhance their resources, thereby preserving the core of its voluntary, educational, and humanitarian mission and strengthening its role in serving youth and society.
He noted, “In the State of Kuwait, we view the Scout Movement as a vital educational partner in building the character of our sons and daughters, given the practical environment it provides where youth learn leadership, discipline, teamwork, initiative, self-reliance, and community service.”
He added, “From this perspective, the Ministry of Education is keen to support scouting and student activities and enhance their role in the educational environment, as they represent a genuine space for transforming values and knowledge into practice and behavior, discovering learners’ abilities, nurturing their talents, and instilling in them values of citizenship, belonging, and voluntary service.”
He pointed out that the gathering of scouting leaders representing 36 countries transcends the scope of a single conference, embodying an international platform for dialogue, experience sharing, and building new partnerships. It aims to leverage successful experiences and practices in resource development, scouting institution management, youth empowerment, voluntary service, and community partnerships.
Minister Al-Tabtabaee commended the efforts of the Kuwait Scout Association and the entities involved in organizing the conference, emphasizing that the experiences and perspectives presented by participants would enrich the scouting movement and lead to practical recommendations supporting its sustainability and enhancing its contribution to youth development and community service.
For his part, Dr. Abdullah Al-Tariji, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Kuwait Scout Association, told KUNA that the conference’s participation by such a large number of scouting leaders represents an opportunity to exchange expertise and experiences and explore new horizons for developing the Scout Movement and enhancing its capacity for continuity and growth, without compromising the core of its voluntary and educational mission.
Al-Tariji added that the challenges facing scouting institutions necessitate a shift toward more innovative visions in resource management and the utilization of the human and organizational potential of the Scout Movement, contributing to the creation of sustainable sources that support programs and activities and expand their reach.
He clarified that the conference seeks to open a specialized discussion on how to balance preserving the voluntary nature of the Scout Movement with leveraging available economic and investment opportunities, while showcasing experiences and practices that can serve as a foundation for developing Arab and international scouting institutions.
In his speech, Al-Tariji announced that Kuwait has been selected to host the World Rover Scout Conference scheduled for October 2027, making it the first Arab country to host this scouting conference. This reflects Kuwait’s standing in the international scouting movement and confidence in its organizational capabilities, offering an opportunity to strengthen its presence on the global scouting stage and exchange experiences with scouting leaders and organizations.
Al-Tariji expressed his appreciation for the Minister of Education’s patronage and attendance at the conference and his support for the Scout Movement, commending the participation of delegations and scouting leaders from 36 countries, whose diverse expertise and experiences enrich the conference’s sessions and themes.
It is worth noting that the conference “The Scout Movement Between Volunteering and Economic Activity” discusses, over its days, topics related to developing scouting work, enhancing the sustainability of its resources, and exchanging experiences and expertise among participating leaders, thereby supporting the Scout Movement’s role in youth development and community service while preserving its voluntary and educational mission. (End) M.A.R.
