Termination of Services for 7,000 Expatriate Teachers
- A gradual and well-considered plan achieves its first phase, yielding an annual saving of 42 million dinars from salaries alone
- Priority given to national competencies and gradual expansion of “Kuwaitization”.. Appointments linked to actual needs
- Total surplus estimated at approximately 33,268... Physical Education and Islamic Studies lead the list of affected specializations
The Ministry of Education has taken the first steps to address the massive surplus in its educational workforce, which stands at around 33,000 male and female teachers in various specializations. This involves launching the first phase of a gradual and well-considered plan, which includes terminating the services of 7,019 contracted male and female teachers of Arab and other nationalities. This measure is expected to yield estimated annual savings of approximately 42 million dinars from the salary budget alone.
Minister of Education Jalal Al-Tabatabai directed the commencement of the plan’s implementation. The initiative aims to recalibrate the size of the teaching staff to align with the actual needs of schools, prioritize national competencies, and gradually expand Kuwaitization in specializations where qualified national cadres are available. Contracts will continue to be used to fill shortages in specializations lacking sufficient national staff.
The Ministry of Education announced that relevant sectors have begun taking the necessary executive measures. Affected employees will be notified of their termination through the government’s “Sahel” application, in accordance with approved administrative and legal regulations and procedures, ensuring their employment rights are protected.
The ministry stated that the total number of teaching staff, excluding supervisory positions, stands at approximately 91,761 male and female teachers. National cadres constitute about 70.6 percent of this workforce. Meanwhile, Gulf teachers and illegally residing individuals account for approximately 10.1 percent, while resident teachers of Arab and other nationalities make up about 19.3 percent.
It added that study results revealed an actual surplus of approximately 33,268 male and female teachers, including citizens, contracted Gulf staff, illegally residing individuals, and resident teachers of Arab and other nationalities. This surplus exists in several specializations where the number of employees exceeds the actual needs of schools.
The Ministry of Education emphasized that addressing this surplus will be done gradually and carefully, based on the actual need for each specialization. It reiterated prioritizing qualified national competencies, linking new appointments to the actual needs of schools, and gradually expanding Kuwaitization in specializations where qualified national cadres are available.
Al-Rai learned that 22 percent of those subject to service termination are male teachers, totaling 1,551, compared to 78 percent female teachers, totaling 5,468. Physical Education and Islamic Studies emerged as the leading specializations affected. The criterion of seniority in appointment was adopted to select those subject to termination.
