Law Decree Replaces Teachers' Allowances and Bonuses Table, Reorganizes Job Levels

600 KD performance-level allowance and 400 KD incentive allowance for “Specialist Teacher (A)”

-200 KD rare-specialty allowance for all levels from “Teacher (D)” up to “Specialist Teacher (A)”

-Introduction of the “Trainee Teacher” level for one year... during which no allowances or incentives are granted

A decree-law No. 86 of 2026 was published in the Official Gazette “Kuwait Al-Yaum,” replacing Table No. (1) attached to Law No. 28 of 2011 concerning the granting of allowances and incentives to members of the teaching staff at the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Islamic Affairs. The decree includes teaching job titles, their qualification and experience requirements, performance-level and incentive allowances, teaching allowances, and rare-specialty allowances.

The decree-law stipulates the following:

Article One

“Without prejudice to acquired rights, Table No. (1) attached to the aforementioned Law No. 28/2011 is hereby replaced by the table attached to this decree-law.”

Table No. (1) regarding teaching job titles, their requirements, performance-level and incentive allowances, teaching allowance, and rare-specialty allowance at the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Islamic Affairs is as follows:

Specialist Teacher (A):

University degree + 17 years of experience, or a teaching diploma or equivalent + 19 years of experience.

Performance-level allowance: 600 KD.

Incentive allowance: 400 KD.

Teaching allowance: 200 KD.

Rare-specialty allowance: 200 KD.

Specialist Teacher (B):

University degree + 13 years of experience, or a teaching diploma or equivalent + 15 years of experience.

Performance-level allowance: 500 KD.

Incentive allowance: 350 KD.

Teaching allowance: 175 KD.

Rare-specialty allowance: 200 KD.

Teacher (A):

University degree + 9 years of experience, or a teaching diploma or equivalent + 11 years of experience.

Performance-level allowance: 400 KD.

Incentive allowance: 300 KD.

Teaching allowance: 150 KD.

Rare-specialty allowance: 200 KD.

Teacher (B):

University degree + 5 years of experience, or a teaching diploma or equivalent + 7 years of experience.

Performance-level allowance: 350 KD.

Incentive allowance: 250 KD.

Teaching allowance: 125 KD.

Rare-specialty allowance: 200 KD.

Teacher (C):

University degree + 2 years of experience, or a teaching diploma or equivalent + 4 years of experience.

Performance-level allowance: 300 KD.

Incentive allowance: 200 KD.

Teaching allowance: 100 KD.

Rare-specialty allowance: 200 KD.

Teacher (D):

1- University degree + 1 year of experience, or a teaching diploma or equivalent + 2 years of experience.

2- Successful completion of the Trainee Teacher training program.

Performance-level allowance: 250 KD.

Incentive allowance: 150 KD.

Teaching allowance: 75 KD.

Rare-specialty allowance: 200 KD.

Trainee Teacher:

1- University degree.

2- This job level is initially filled for a period of one year, during which the Trainee Teacher undergoes a training program whose conditions, controls, and examination procedures are determined by a decision of the Minister of Education. The salary is determined according to the financial grade assigned upon appointment.

3- If the Trainee Teacher successfully completes the aforementioned training program, they are automatically promoted to the next job levels according to the conditions and controls specified for each level, as well as any additional conditions set by the Civil Service Council and the Ministry of Education regarding progression through the hierarchical job levels.

4- If the Trainee Teacher fails to complete the training program, they are transferred to an administrative position at the Ministry of Education if they hold a teaching university qualification (Bachelor of Education) from the College of Education at Kuwait University or from the Basic Education College of the Public Authority for Applied Education and Training. If they do not hold the aforementioned university qualification, their file is referred to the Diwan of Civil Service for assignment to another government entity under a job title appropriate to their qualification.

Trainee teachers are not entitled to the job-level allowance, the incentive bonus, the teaching allowance, or the rare-specialization allowance.

Article Two

Any provision that contradicts the provisions of the table attached to this Decree-Law is hereby repealed.

Article Three

The Ministers shall, each within their respective competence, implement this Decree-Law, which shall enter into force from the date of its publication in the Official Gazette.

Explanatory Memorandum

The Explanatory Memorandum of the Decree-Law clarified that the Ministry of Education seeks to support teachers and provide all means enabling them to fulfill their mission, in recognition of their role in advancing academic and cultural standards. This comes amid rapid changes in education that have imposed roles on teachers extending beyond the traditional framework of classroom instruction, requiring the development of tools and methods aligned with modern technologies.

The Ministry emphasizes its commitment to investing in the development of teachers’ skills through advanced training programs and workshops that keep pace with modern developments, with the aim of enhancing the educational process and building a modern educational system based on the latest global standards.

It pointed out that Law No. 28 of 2011 concerning the granting of allowances and bonuses to members of the teaching staff, as amended by Law No. 26 of 2016, aimed to achieve stability for teaching staff and create a professional reality that makes the teaching profession more attractive for recruiting qualified candidates and preparing them for the profession, while encouraging constructive competition among its employees and rewarding excellence in the promotion process. This led to the approval of certain material benefits for teaching staff members in the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Islamic Affairs.

It noted that Table No. (1) attached to that law included the titles of educational positions, ranging from the level of Teacher (C) up to the level of Specialist Teacher (A), along with the conditions for holding each job level in terms of academic qualifications and years of experience. It also specified the value of the job-level allowance, the incentive bonus, the teaching allowance, and the rare-specialization allowance granted according to each level.

The Memorandum indicated that Law No. 86 of 2017, amending Law No. 28 of 2011, had previously replaced the aforementioned tables with another table.

It added that the Civil Service System stipulated the general conditions for holding civil service positions and authorized government entities to add other conditions after obtaining the opinion of the Civil Service Bureau. It also permitted the appointment of individuals lacking formal qualifications but possessing experience or having completed training courses for specific positions, in accordance with the rules and conditions determined by the Civil Service Council.

The Memorandum emphasized that the teaching profession has a special nature due to its importance and impact on shaping learners’ thinking, as well as being a comprehensive educational and pedagogical mission rather than mere rote instruction. It requires a combination of academic and pedagogical skills, the ability to handle and modify behavioral problems, alongside planning, delivering, and evaluating student performance in academic subjects.

It further stated that teachers are required to serve as role models for students in behavior and values, given their direct influence on shaping students’ personalities. This necessitates additional conditions for candidates applying for educational positions to ensure the performance of assigned duties in a manner that achieves the intended objectives.

It clarified that Civil Service Council Decision No. 2 of 1996 concerning the positions, allowances, and bonuses of members of the teaching staff had previously determined the job levels for teaching staff members and the conditions for holding each level. The new table attached to the Decree-Law aims to specify the titles of positions, the conditions for holding them, and the values of the job-level allowance, incentive bonus, teaching allowance, and rare-specialization allowance.