Kuwaiti Minister of Education Emphasizes the Importance of Strengthening Gulf Integration and Unifying Visions to Develop the Educational System
Kuwaiti Minister of Education Engineer Sayed Jalal Al-Tabtabai affirmed on Wednesday the necessity of continuing to strengthen joint educational efforts and unify visions among the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member states, contributing to the development of the education system and keeping pace with future aspirations.
He made these remarks in a statement to the Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) on the sidelines of the 10th meeting of the GCC Committee of Ministers of Education, hosted by the Kingdom of Bahrain with the participation of education ministers from the GCC member states.
Minister Al-Tabtabai emphasized that the meeting represents a significant milestone for enhancing educational cooperation and unifying visions toward developing general education. He highlighted the importance of joint initiatives and projects that contribute to elevating the education system and leveraging successful experiences and expertise across the GCC member states.
Al-Tabtabai pointed to the importance of following up on initiatives previously proposed by Kuwait during the 9th meeting of the GCC Committee of Ministers of Education, hosted by Kuwait in 2025. These include the initiative for a unified strategic framework for general education and the initiative for student exchange programs for talented students and distinguished teachers.
He affirmed that continuing work on these initiatives will strengthen Gulf educational integration, expand areas of communication and experience exchange between students and educational staff, thereby supporting talent and excellence and benefiting from educational experiences and expertise among GCC member states.
He noted that developing education requires enhancing integration among GCC member states in all areas related to the educational process, including strategic transformation in general education, international cooperation, and developing the work of the Arab Bureau of Education for the Gulf States, alongside attention to financial culture, student activities, sports, and awareness programs.
Minister Al-Tabtabai expressed his sincere gratitude and appreciation to the sister Kingdom of Bahrain, its leadership, government, and people, for their warm reception, hospitality, and excellent organization. He praised the efforts made to ensure the success of the 10th meeting of the GCC Committee of Ministers of Education.
The meeting discussed Kuwait’s initiative regarding student exchange programs for talented students and distinguished teachers among GCC member states, aiming to enhance the utilization of educational experiences and expertise, support the development of students’ talents and capabilities, and facilitate the exchange of experiences and practices among distinguished educational staff in the GCC.
The meeting also examined the decision of the Supreme Council in its 45th session, held in Kuwait in 2024, concerning the Gulf strategy to combat drugs, and followed up on efforts and programs related to the educational and awareness systems in this field, to strengthen prevention and protect students and the school community.
The meeting reviewed the fourth of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, which pertains to ensuring quality, equitable, and inclusive education and promoting lifelong learning opportunities for all. It also discussed instilling principles of financial culture among school students in GCC member states and enhancing financial awareness from early educational stages.
Furthermore, the meeting discussed aspects of international cooperation in educational and pedagogical fields and ways to develop it to serve the common objectives of GCC member states. It also examined the issue of unified procurement of materials, systems, and equipment that serve the educational process, to enhance opportunities for integration and mutual benefit among GCC member states.
The ministers also discussed the Gulf School Sports League, which contributes to supporting school sports activities and enhancing interaction among students from the Council’s member states. They further reviewed the Gulf Student Competitions Program, which provides opportunities for competition, creativity, and the development of student skills across various fields.
