Minister of Education: 'A Child Reads' initiative nurtures kindergarten talents
Press coverage 3 newspapers covered this event: Al-Rai · Al-Seyassah · Kuwait News →
Jalal Al-Tabtabaei confirmed that the 'A Child Reads' initiative contributes to nurturing kindergarten talents and developing their abilities.
Translated by Qiyas from الراي — Original source
Education Minister Jalal Al-Tabtabaee affirmed that the “Child Reads” initiative contributes to nurturing the talents of preschool children and developing their abilities from an early age, thereby preparing them to continue excelling in subsequent educational stages. He expressed his aspiration for Kuwait to lead the Arab region through this initiative.
Speaking to KUNA following the launch ceremony of the initiative’s second season, Al-Tabtabaee stated that “attention to the preschool stage constitutes a foundation for building a new generation.” He explained that the idea behind the initiative emerged during a meeting with the Arab Reading Challenge team, after it became evident that the Challenge targets elementary, middle, and secondary school students, which necessitated opening the door for preschool children to participate.
He praised the achievements of the Arab Reading Challenge during the 2025–2026 academic year, noting the winning of three awards, and highlighted the success of the “Child Reads” initiative, calling for expanded efforts to discover children’s abilities within preschools and to focus on the diversity of their talents and reading specializations.
For his part, Abdullah Al-Barak, the initiative’s general coordinator, said in his speech at the ceremony that the initiative extends Kuwait’s leadership in science, knowledge, culture, and initiatives that serve the Arab human being. He clarified that it aims to develop children’s pre-reading skills, based on the belief that building a reader begins before learning letters and sentences.
He noted that “Child Reads” is the first government initiative whose stories have been included in the Arab Reading Challenge library, allowing children across the Arab world to benefit from them, as they contain values that reflect society. He expressed pride in the recognition and attention the Kuwaiti experience received from Arab participants, emphasizing that this reflects the initiative’s value and its role in developing children’s skills and strengthening their connection to reading from their earliest years.
