New Decree Reorganizes Teachers' Allowances and Bonuses

Decree-Law No. 86 of 2026, concerning the replacement of Schedule (1) attached to Law No. 28 of 2011 regarding the granting of allowances and bonuses to Kuwaiti members of the teaching staff in the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, has been issued in the Official Gazette “Kuwait Today” and shall enter into force from the date of its publication.

The decree-law stipulates the replacement of the aforementioned schedule with the attached one, without prejudice to acquired rights, and repeals any provision conflicting with the new schedule. It entrusts the ministers, each within their respective competence, with the implementation of its provisions.

According to its explanatory memorandum, the decree-law comes within the framework of reorganizing the conditions for holding educational positions, in line with the nature of the teaching profession and its evolving requirements. It aims to select the most competent candidates, while supporting and qualifying teachers to keep pace with developments in the educational process.

The memorandum clarified that the nature of a teacher’s role extends beyond delivering subject matter within the classroom, encompassing diverse educational and pedagogical tasks. These include handling behavioral issues, evaluating student performance, developing professional skills, keeping abreast of modern developments, and playing an influential role in shaping students’ personalities.

It further noted that practical realities have revealed the inadequacy of current conditions for appointing recent graduates to educational positions. It pointed out that obtaining a university degree in education or a pedagogical diploma alone is insufficient to guarantee that applicants possess the necessary skills and competencies to practice the teaching profession efficiently.

A one-year training period before assuming an educational post

The new regulations reorganize the mechanism for appointing Kuwaitis to educational positions. Appointments will initially be for a one-year period under the title “Trainee Teacher,” during which the appointee will perform teaching duties and undergo a one-year training program combining theoretical study and practical training.

During this period, the trainee teacher will receive a salary according to the financial grade assigned to them. However, allowances or bonuses specific to members of the teaching staff related to performing teaching duties will not be paid during the training period.

If the trainee teacher successfully completes the training program, they will advance to the next functional level within the established levels for members of the teaching staff, subject to the conditions specified in the new schedule, the allowances and bonuses allocated for each level, and any additional conditions determined by the Civil Service Council and the Ministry of Education regarding promotion to higher functional levels.

In the event that the trainee teacher fails to pass the training program, they will be transferred to an administrative position in the Ministry of Education if they hold a university degree in education from the College of Education at Kuwait University or the Basic Education College of the Public Authority for Applied Education and Training.

For those who do not hold the aforementioned university degree and fail to complete the program, their files will be referred to the Diwan of the Civil Service for assignment to another government entity according to a job title appropriate to their academic qualification.

Developing the education system

The explanatory memorandum emphasized that reorganizing appointment conditions aims to achieve a balance between the right of College of Education graduates to join educational positions and the Ministry of Education’s right to select the best candidates capable of performing teaching duties and achieving desired outcomes.

It noted that the objective is to establish objective criteria commensurate with the nature of the educational position, ensuring equal opportunities and equality before the law, while simultaneously guaranteeing that individuals entrusted with educating and nurturing students possess the necessary specific attributes and competencies.

The memorandum mentioned that Law No. 28 of 2011 was originally enacted to amend the system in place at that time. Previously, Civil Service Council Decision No. 2 of 1996 had established functional levels for members of the teaching staff, ranging from “Teacher Grade D” to “Specialist Teacher Grade A,” with specified qualifications and experience requirements for each level.

It also noted that Law No. 86 of 2017 replaced the schedule concerning functional levels. However, developments in the educational process and the need to ensure the competence of those holding educational positions necessitated a review of appointment conditions and the mechanism for entering the profession.

The decree-law aligns with a broader initiative aimed at developing human resources in the education sector and raising the professional competence of teachers, in accordance with the rapid changes witnessed by the education sector and the need to keep pace with modern technologies and educational methodologies.