Kuwait’s ‘A Child Reads’ Initiative Gains Praise Across Arab World

By the Editorial Team · Monday, November 2, 2026

Kuwait’s Ministry of Education presented its "A Child Reads" initiative at the Arab Reading Challenge event in Dubai, highlighting its storytelling-based approach to early childhood literacy. The program garnered regional interest as a flexible, culturally adaptable model, with several Arab countries seeking to implement it in their own education systems.

Kuwait’s Ministry of Education has received widespread recognition across the Arab region for its "A Child Reads" (‘Tifl Yaqra’a’) initiative, which was showcased to representatives of Arab countries during the Arab Reading Challenge event held in Dubai on November 1.

The presentation was made in the presence of Saeed Al Eter, Chairman of the UAE Government Media Office and Executive Director of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives (MBRGI). The Kuwaiti delegation highlighted the program’s approach and achievements, drawing considerable interest from participating nations eager to adopt similar models.

Launched under the direction of Kuwait’s Minister of Education Eng. Sayed Jalal Al-Tabtabaei, the initiative aims to cultivate a love for reading in children at an early age. It employs storytelling as an educational tool to enhance pre-reading skills, vocabulary development, expressive abilities, listening comprehension, and imagination. Abdullah Al-Barrak, the General Coordinator for the Arab Reading Challenge in Kuwait, provided an overview of the program’s vision and operational experience during the event.

Yousef Hussein, monitoring officer for the initiative’s storytelling team, elaborated on the methodology behind the development of narrative content. He emphasized the adaptability of the stories to different cultural and educational settings without compromising the foundational educational objectives. This flexibility positions the initiative as a potential model that other Arab nations can tailor to their specific contexts.

Following a review by the Arab Reading Challenge management, MBRGI Secretary General Mohammad Al Gergawi requested that Kuwait share the initiative widely so that other Arab countries might explore its application in their education systems. The initiative’s alignment with the broader goals of the Arab Reading Challenge facilitated its regional endorsement.

Kuwait’s program has already been implemented in 215 kindergartens across various educational districts. Through a series of qualifying rounds and educational assessments, 26 outstanding participants were selected in three categories: students (10), teachers (10), and coordinators (6). The stories developed as part of the initiative are also made accessible on the Arab Reading Challenge’s official website to extend their reach and strengthen educational collaboration throughout the Arab world.

Several countries expressed interest in adopting the Kuwaiti model, seeking to work alongside the Ministry of Education to benefit from Kuwait’s expertise. The positive reception underscores the growing regional commitment to enhancing childhood literacy and fostering a culture of reading through innovative, context-sensitive educational programs.

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