Education Ministry: Classes Begin at Gifted Students Schools, First Batch Received

- 198 male and female students distributed across 14 classrooms from the sixth to the ninth grade

- Selection and specialized training of 78 educational and administrative staff members

The Ministry of Education announced the commencement of classes at the Gifted Boys’ and Girls’ Schools in the West Abdullah Al-Mubarak area, and the reception of the first batch of students. This step aims to strengthen the system for identifying and nurturing gifted individuals by providing a specialized educational environment that fosters the development of their creative and scientific abilities and refines their talents.

The Ministry emphasized that the start of classes is in implementation of Ministerial Decision No. (153) of 2026 regarding the operation of gifted schools. It clarified that the number of students accepted in the first identification cycle for the 2026/2027 academic year reached 198, comprising 55 boys at the boys’ school and 143 girls at the girls’ school. These students are distributed across 14 classrooms from the sixth to the ninth grade, with no more than 16 students per class.

The Ministry explained that it completed the procedures for selecting educational and administrative staff through stages that included screening applications, verifying compliance with approved conditions and criteria, and conducting tests and personal interviews. It noted that 78 educational and administrative staff members passed the selection process, including 60 teachers, 11 department heads, 4 assistant principals, along with library secretaries and the chief psychologist.

The Ministry stated that the selected staff joined a specialized training program to prepare them for the nature of work in gifted schools and to enhance their skills in interacting with students and understanding their educational and pedagogical needs, thereby contributing to providing an environment that stimulates creativity and innovation.

It added that it completed the necessary operational preparations to receive students, including preparing school transportation plans and distributing bus routes to cover all accepted students, alongside ensuring the readiness of educational and administrative staff and support services.

The Ministry affirmed that the launch of classes at the gifted schools represents a progressive step in developing Kuwait’s system for nurturing talent and creativity, through specialized educational programs and curricula that respond to students’ needs and support their academic excellence, aligning with the Ministry’s direction toward enhancing the quality of education and investing in future national competencies.

For his part, Badr Al-Shatti, Head of the Awareness and Development Department at the Gifted Office within the Ministry of Education, confirmed that the start of classes is part of the efforts by the Gifted Office, which falls under the sector of the Minister of Education’s office, to prepare a generation of young people capable of leading innovation and invention paths in the future.

Al-Shatti said the office was established by a decision of the Minister of Education to identify, nurture, and develop promising student talents by providing a specialized educational environment that allows them to develop their abilities and achieve their full potential in various scientific fields.

He clarified that student selection for enrollment in the two schools was based on multiple criteria, including academic achievement levels, creativity assessment tests, and intelligence quotient rates. Teachers were also carefully selected due to their role in identifying students’ talents, understanding their needs, and refining their creative abilities.

He added that the office worked to provide specialized enrichment curricula aimed at developing students’ skills and enhancing their potential, helping them reach advanced levels of excellence in scientific fields and opening broader horizons for creativity and innovation.

Al-Shatti noted that students showed engagement and enthusiasm from the first day of classes, explaining that the two schools ensured a welcoming reception to help them adapt to the new school environment and get to know teachers and peers, especially since the accepted students came from various regions of Kuwait.

He also praised the partnership between Boubyan Bank and its initiative to visit schools for gifted students and provide encouraging gifts to them, noting that the initiative reflects the importance of community partnerships in supporting educational initiatives and nurturing promising student potential.

Al-Shatti affirmed that the start of the academic year was marked by activity, vitality, and positive engagement, expressing his hope that educational and enrichment programs would contribute to developing students’ abilities, honing their talents, and fulfilling their future aspirations.