Societies seek govt intervention, reform to save education

Societies seek govt intervention, reform to save education

By Nawara Fattahova

KUWAIT: Twenty societies in Kuwait have released a joint statement in which they warn of the deteriorating level of education in the country. They quote an education ministry study carried out recently involving more than 250 schools that yielded “disappointing results”, which they warn could lead to a “national crisis” unless the government intervenes promptly to address the problem.

Nadya Al-Sharrah, founding member of the Solidarity Group for Education Reform, one of the main signatories of the statement and an economist, said education should be a priority. “Education in Kuwait is in danger. Through this statement we are sounding the alarm, so those in charge will join the efforts of both the executive and legislative powers. We need to have an active educational committee in the parliament as well,” she told Kuwait Times.

The statement was motivated by the disappointing results of a pilot study conducted in December that included 267 public and private schools. “This study showed the level of education has deteriorated in basic subjects including languages, mathematics and sciences,” Sharrah said. The signatories of the statement also have reservations and objections against the evaluation by the ministry. “The evaluation included in the study should have been done