Kuwaiti youth call for reforms to fill unemployment, education gaps

Kuwaiti youth call for reforms to fill unemployment, education gaps

By Faten Omar

KUWAIT: In 2017, Kuwait unveiled a new plan to transform the country into a regional financial and cultural hub by 2035 through 164 strategic development programs to attract investment. But how do youth in Kuwait see the ongoing development? Kuwait Times spoke with young citizens to learn their perspectives on how to develop Kuwait. Azzam Al-Khaldi, 23, said Kuwait still needs to work on various aspects to contribute to the overall growth and well-being of development plans, as well as young individuals in the country. “I think education reform is the main issue for the young generation. The education system needs more involvement of modern teaching methods to promote critical thinking, creativity and problem-solving skills, and to introduce practical training for the job market,” he said.

For Ali Al-Mohareb, 26, focusing on productivity is important, explaining that Kuwaiti government jobs are not going to be able to overcome unemployment in the coming years, so focusing on developing entrepreneurship and innovation is important. He stressed the need to adopt an entrepreneurial culture by supporting youth-led startups and providing mentorship programs and funding and encouraging innovation and collaboration across different sectors. Mohareb indicated the government must address the challenges of youth