Ministry of Education Begins First Phase of Terminating Services for Approximately 7,019 Male and Female Teachers of Arab and Other Nationalities
- The surplus mitigation plan was based on research and studies of teacher numbers, as well as indicators of shortages and needs.
- The total teaching staff comprises 91,761 male and female teachers, with 70.6 percent being national cadres.
- A workforce study revealed a surplus of approximately 33,268 male and female teachers in several educational specialties.
- Affected staff will be notified of their termination of service via the “Sehhaty” (Sehl) government application, in accordance with approved systems, regulations, and procedures.
Education Minister Eng. Jalal Al-Tabatabai has directed relevant sectors to begin implementing a gradual plan aimed at addressing the surplus in several specialties and enhancing the efficiency of human resources and financial management. This initiative seeks to achieve optimal utilization of personnel and maintain stability in the educational process.
In a statement, the Ministry of Education noted that Minister Al-Tabatabai’s directives followed a series of meetings and studies conducted by relevant sectors to review the state of the educational workforce. These efforts included analyzing the number of teaching staff across various specialties, academic stages, and educational districts, monitoring shortage and surplus indicators, and identifying current and future school needs. This led to the development of a surplus mitigation plan based on actual data and precise indicators for each specialty.
The Ministry clarified that the total number of teaching staff, excluding supervisory positions, stands at approximately 91,761 male and female teachers. National cadres account for about 70.6 percent of this figure. Meanwhile, Gulf teachers and illegally residing individuals make up approximately 10.1 percent, while resident teachers of Arab and other nationalities constitute about 19.3 percent. The study results indicated an actual surplus of approximately 33,268 male and female teachers, including citizens, contracted Gulf cadres, illegally residing individuals, and resident teachers of Arab and other nationalities. This surplus exists in several specialties where the number of employees exceeds the actual needs of schools.
The Ministry emphasized that addressing this surplus will be done gradually and systematically, according to the actual needs of each specialty. This approach ensures a balance in the teaching staff numbers without disrupting schooling or school requirements, while taking into account educational process needs and the best interests of students.
The Ministry added that the first phase of the plan involves terminating the services of approximately 7,019 male and female teachers from contracted cadres of Arab and other nationalities in specialties where data shows a surplus over actual needs. Relevant sectors have begun taking the necessary executive measures. Affected staff will be notified of their termination of service through the government “Sehhaty” (Sehl) application, in compliance with approved administrative and legal systems, regulations, and procedures, ensuring their employment rights are protected.
The Ministry stated that implementing the first phase of the surplus mitigation plan is expected to generate estimated annual savings of approximately 42 million Kuwaiti dinars from salary expenditures alone. Additionally, it will help recalibrate the teaching staff numbers to align with actual school needs, thereby enhancing the efficiency of human resources and financial management and preventing the accumulation of surpluses in the future.
The Ministry clarified that labor market indicators revealed a surplus in several educational specializations across various school stages. The surplus adjustment in boys’ schools at the primary level included Arabic Language, English Language, Islamic Studies, Art Education, and Music Education. At the intermediate level, the surplus covered Islamic Studies, Social Studies, Art Education, Music Education, Electricity, and Decor. In secondary schools, the surplus extended to Chemistry, Philosophy, Geology, Islamic Studies, Art Education, Music Education, and Geography.
Regarding girls’ schools, the Ministry of Education indicated that the surplus at the primary level comprised Mathematics, Arabic Language, Art Education, Physical Education, and Music Education. At the intermediate level, the surplus included Music Education, Physical Education, Islamic Studies, Science, Mathematics, Arabic Language, and Electricity. In secondary schools, the surplus was limited to the French Language specialization, in addition to a surplus in Music Education at the kindergarten stage.
The Ministry of Education expressed its appreciation and pride in the efforts exerted by male and female teachers, who are part of its contracted workforce, throughout their years of service. It highlighted their dedication and contributions to serving Kuwaiti students and supporting the educational journey. The Ministry emphasized that implementing the plan aims to organize staffing needs and address surpluses in educational specializations in accordance with the actual requirements of schools.
The Ministry commended the sincere dedication and commendable efforts of these qualified personnel, which have positively impacted the educational field and the educational trajectory in the State of Kuwait. It reaffirmed its appreciation for the role of teachers and their educational contributions, which remain a source of pride, while simultaneously working to align workforce needs with the requirements of the coming phase.
The Ministry of Education clarified that continuously reviewing the status of the educational workforce and aligning its numbers with indicators of shortages, surpluses, and the actual needs of schools constitutes a central pillar of the plan. This is achieved through a meticulous review of the number of male and female teachers in each specialization, school stage, and educational zone, along with the periodic updating of shortage and surplus indicators.
It noted that this mechanism aims to prioritize qualified national cadres, link new appointments to the actual needs of schools, and gradually expand the localization of specializations where qualified national personnel are available. At the same time, it will continue to rely on contracted expertise in specializations facing shortages where there are insufficient numbers of national cadres, thereby meeting the needs of the educational field and preventing the formation of new surpluses in the future.
