Kuwait’s Ministry of Education has approved a comprehensive new regulatory framework intended to unify and modernize the country’s education system. The finalized bylaws, endorsed by Education Minister Jalal Al-Tabtabaei, will come into effect once the relevant ministerial decision is issued.
The new regulations replace multiple previous documents and instructions, aiming to establish clearer, more stable guidelines for all stakeholders within the educational community. Minister Al-Tabtabaei characterized the regulations as the result of an extensive consultative process involving educational experts, legal and technical reviews, and discussions with practitioners to ensure the rules address current realities and needs.
Covering 22 chapters, the framework encompasses all levels of education—from kindergarten through primary, intermediate, secondary, and religious instruction. Key topics include student registration and transfers, school systems, social and psychological support services, extracurricular activities, distance learning, examination procedures, student conduct, and professional discipline within schools.
A central focus of the new bylaws is the introduction of updated assessment and grading systems designed to enhance student evaluation and school discipline while fostering stronger cooperation between schools and families. For secondary education, semester grades will be divided between 40 percent continuous assessment and 60 percent final examinations. Continuous assessment components include class participation, homework, conduct, and projects, with defined criteria for creativity and presentation standards.
The framework also institutes a cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) system for secondary students. Under this system, grades from Grade 10, Grade 11, and Grade 12 carry weighted contributions of 10 percent, 20 percent, and 70 percent respectively toward the final average. Notably, students who fail a subject in an earlier year will not have that failure reflected in their cumulative GPA once they pass the subject in a subsequent year. The GPA scale assigns an A+ to scores between 97 and 100, corresponding to four points.
The Ministry reported significant modernization rates across various educational stages, with a complete overhaul of kindergarten regulations and substantial updates to primary, religious, intermediate, and secondary education rules. The new regulation aims to clarify the rights, duties, responsibilities, and powers of students, parents, teachers, and school administrators alike, promoting a more organized and stable educational environment throughout Kuwait.