Al-Tabtabaee: Building a more resilient, inclusive, and sustainable education system
- The summit marks a transition from commitments to implementation and the exchange of expertise.
- Investing in education is an investment in human capital and the future of coming generations.
- Kuwait’s educational experience during the past year and its circumstances was exceptional.
- Half a million students continued their education remotely, with an attendance rate exceeding 85%.
Minister of Education Jalal Al-Tabtabaei affirmed that the State of Kuwait is committed to developing its educational system in line with international visions and frameworks, enhancing cooperation with UNESCO and international partners, and leveraging global best practices. These efforts aim to accelerate the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 4 and build educational systems that are more resilient, inclusive, and sustainable. He emphasized that investing in education is an investment in people, social stability, and the future of coming generations.
This statement was made by Minister Al-Tabtabaei during his participation in the session on “Government Leadership and Youth Innovation,” held as part of the “Transforming Education” Summit convened at the headquarters of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in Paris.
Minister Al-Tabtabaei noted that Kuwait’s educational experience during the previous academic year was exceptional, demonstrating the system’s capacity to ensure continuity of learning despite the emergency conditions faced by the country and the region. That year represented a unique chapter in the nation’s educational journey, as regional circumstances necessitated swift decisions to ensure student safety, maintain the continuity of the educational process, and transition the entire system to remote learning across all educational stages.
He pointed out that during this period, more than half a million students continued their studies remotely, with an attendance rate surpassing 85 percent. The Ministry organized and enhanced mechanisms for teaching, monitoring, and assessment, while also ensuring the provision and delivery of textbooks to students to guarantee their safety, sustain the educational process, and ensure equal opportunities.
He further highlighted that the Ministry developed over 27 electronic platforms and services, including the Electronic Transfer Platform, utilized by more than 106,000 teachers, and a smart chat service linked to the curriculum. Additionally, approximately 2,350 teachers and educational leaders were trained, a digital system for professional development was introduced, and a national project was implemented to qualify around 40,000 teachers in artificial intelligence applications.
The Minister of Education stated that Kuwait strives to translate Sustainable Development Goal 4—which calls for inclusive and equitable quality education and lifelong learning opportunities for all, and equipping individuals with the knowledge and skills needed to improve their lives and contribute to building prosperous and sustainable societies—into reality by 2030.
He underscored the importance of practical initiatives and measures that elevate the quality of education, noting that Kuwait views this summit as a milestone for transitioning from commitments to implementation, reviewing achievements, exchanging expertise, and setting priorities for the period leading up to 2030.
He mentioned that the world is facing rapid transformations and interconnected challenges that necessitate reevaluating the capacity of educational systems to adapt and endure. He explained that Kuwait has translated its commitment to achieving Goal 4 into concrete actions focused on enhancing the quality of education, ensuring equitable access, and strengthening the resilience and responsiveness of the educational system to changes.
He stressed that the Ministry continues to develop curricula in accordance with contemporary global standards and skills, and is preparing a unified educational regulation to strengthen governance and institutional oversight. These efforts involve the participation of more than 193,000 individuals from the educational field and parents in a national survey aimed at curriculum development.
The Minister of Education reaffirmed Kuwait’s commitment to strengthening its partnership with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and leveraging its global expertise to develop education, emphasizing that teacher qualification and the enhancement of their professional competencies constitute a primary priority in the plans for developing the educational system.
This statement came during his meeting with UNESCO’s Director-General, Dr. Khaled El-Anany, who discussed prospects for expanding joint cooperation and supporting educational initiatives that keep pace with global changes and contribute to improving the quality of education and its outcomes. He underscored the Ministry’s keenness to benefit from leading international expertise and experiences and to adopt the best global standards in the professional development of teachers, considering them the cornerstone of any successful educational reform process.
Furthermore, Minister Al-Tabtabaei held a series of meetings with UNESCO officials addressing ways to develop teachers’ skills and exchange educational expertise, alongside exploring opportunities to enhance cultural cooperation and support Kuwait’s efforts to safeguard its national heritage and strengthen its presence on the global cultural heritage map.
During the meeting, Al-Tabtabaei discussed a number of priority files in the fields of education and culture. He also received a briefing on the mechanisms for following up on Kuwait’s files within the organization and the role played by the Permanent Representative’s Office in representing Kuwait and enhancing its presence in the organization’s programs and committees.
Both sides stressed the importance of continuing coordination and cooperation to support efforts to develop the educational system, benefit from international expertise and experiences, and align with Kuwait’s directions to elevate the education sector and strengthen its presence at both the regional and international levels.
