Ministry of Education Holds Briefing for Schools Participating in PIRLS Study

The Ministry of Education held an informational meeting on Thursday for Arab schools participating in the international PIRLS 2026 study, which assesses reading comprehension skills, at the Ministry’s General Secretariat auditorium. The meeting was attended by Assistant Undersecretary for Educational Affairs Hamad Al-Hamad and principals of the participating schools.

In his address, Al-Hamad emphasized the Ministry’s commitment to active participation in international assessments and studies, commending the sincere efforts made by school administrations and educational staff to uphold Kuwait’s reputation on international educational platforms.

He noted that this meeting follows a series of recent international successes achieved by the Ministry, most notably winning six medals at the Biology Olympiad, as well as securing top positions and multiple awards in robotics and artificial intelligence competitions held in Switzerland.

Al-Hamad added, “These achievements would not have been possible without the unity and teamwork spirit demonstrated by field leaders and teachers,” stressing that mutual cooperation in the students’ best interests is essential to realizing the desired aspirations.

He called on school administrations to continue this approach and motivate students, especially as the scope of the PIRLS 2026 study expands to include more than 100 schools.

For her part, Hawraa Al-Qattan, General Supervisor of International Studies, presented an overview of the study, its objectives, and its importance in measuring students’ reading comprehension skills. She also outlined the implementation mechanism, the roles of participating schools, and the organizational and technical procedures necessary to ensure the study is conducted in accordance with accepted international standards. Al-Qattan clarified that the Ministry’s preparation for the international PIRLS study included 108 public general education schools and 24 private Arab schools.

This meeting is part of a series of meetings and preparatory activities undertaken by the Ministry of Education to enhance the readiness of participating schools and strengthen coordination with school teams, in preparation for the main implementation of PIRLS 2026.