Kuwait's Deputy Education Minister: Teacher and Curriculum Development Key to Improving Student Learning Outcomes
From Khaled Al-Shammari, Riyadh, 4 Oct (KUNA) -- Kuwait’s Undersecretary of the Ministry of Education, Dr. Khaled Al-Rasheed, 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. He made these remarks while participating in the high-level regional dialogue on improving students’ learning outcomes in the Gulf, Middle East, and North Africa region, titled “Insights from the 2025 PISA Results,” organized by the Arab Bureau of Education for the Gulf Countries (ABEGC) in cooperation with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in Riyadh.
In a statement to the Kuwait News Agency (KUNA), Dr. Al-Rasheed said that during one of the dialogue’s sessions, he stressed that teaching students how to think scientifically goes beyond simply 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 revise their conclusions in light of the evidence they obtain. 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 central pillar for improving the quality of the educational process and achieving better learning outcomes.
Dr. Al-Rasheed outlined Kuwait’s efforts and projects aimed at developing the education system and enhancing educational quality, including the Teacher Licensing Project, curriculum development initiatives, 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 stage.
The event aimed to present international study results at the regional level and discuss ways to leverage the 2025 PISA results to develop education policies, exchange experiences and successful practices among participating countries and organizations, thereby supporting education development pathways and enhancing the quality of educational outcomes.
The dialogue was attended by representatives from the education ministries of 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 (ABEGC), and a number of regional and international educational organizations and bodies also participated.
The Kuwaiti Ministry of Education delegation, in addition to Dr. Al-Rasheed, included Badr Al-Shatti, the Arabic Language Specialist Advisor at the Mubarak Al-Kabeer Education Zone. (End) K.N.S./M.A.H.A.
