Education is one of the most important pillars on which the future of any nation depends. Education is the basis for progress and scientific and intellectual renaissance. However, with the emergence of challenges facing education, such as technology and scientific development, the importance of developing educational curricula, which are the cornerstone of the educational process, has increased in order to keep pace with scientific progress and keep pace with modern technology, as well as to improve the quality of education and overcome the challenges of the future. In this context, we find the Kuwaiti government focusing all its efforts and endeavors towards developing educational curricula in Kuwait, as we always find it striving towards innovative curricula and new educational programs in order to meet the needs of the labor market and raise the economic level of the country.
What is meant by developing educational curricula in Kuwait?
Developing educational curricula means introducing some modifications and additions to the educational content and curricula to keep pace with technology and scientific progress and development, and enable students to absorb various developments and innovations in various scientific fields, and confront all challenges. Although the process of developing educational curricula in Kuwait is an important step, it is very sensitive, as during the development process, all social, cultural and political aspects of the State of Kuwait must be taken into account, in addition to the necessity of taking into account the developments of the scientific aspect, so that the new educational curriculum that has been developed becomes beneficial to society and the individual alike. In order to achieve this, correct and accurate procedures and steps must be followed. What are the steps for developing educational curricula in Kuwait?
Stages of development of education in the State of Kuwait:
The process of developing educational curricula in Kuwait went through several stages. The beginnings of the emergence of education in Kuwait were simple. At that time, education was limited to a few and specific groups in society. Obtaining educational resources and scientific and educational materials was difficult to obtain. However, in the subsequent stages of education in Kuwait, the educational process and curricula developed better than they were before, as many scholars and researchers contributed to delivering science, knowledge and education to students despite the lack of educational resources and weak capabilities. However, by 1911, the first school in Kuwait was established, which was Al-Mubarakiya School. Efforts were then combined to establish other schools such as Al-Ahmadia and Al-Saada Schools. However, after that, the State of Kuwait became primarily responsible for education and educational curricula. The Education Council was established, and that council was responsible for managing and supervising education in Kuwait. That council also contributed to establishing many schools, repairing and developing old educational centers, in addition to developing many development plans to develop educational curricula in Kuwait. By 1954, researchers and specialists in the field of education began planning to establish new principles and plans to develop educational curricula and organize The educational process is better than it was in the past.
A deeper look at the stages of development of educational curricula in Kuwait and the development of education in general:
The stages of development of educational curricula in Kuwait since its inception until that time witnessed gradual progress, but although this progress was gradual, it was noticeable, starting from the simple, humble beginnings represented by Quranic schools and religious education, until the educational systems expanded, and the curricula developed in order to meet the needs of the labor market, modern technology, the needs of society, the country’s economy, and scientific progress.
The educational system in the State of Kuwait at the beginning of its establishment in the late nineteenth century was very limited, as education was only available to a few wealthy families who could afford the costs of education and send their children to school to receive an education. However, at the beginning of the thirties, this educational system began to change when the Kuwaiti government decided to increase investment and expand education and make it available and free to all its citizens.
But in the fifties and sixties of the last century, the educational curricula in Kuwait and even the educational system underwent many expansions, as the oil wealth allowed the State of Kuwait to establish many new schools and universities. Since that time, education has become a major priority for the Kuwaiti government, and the educational system in Kuwait has gone through several stages, namely:
The first stage of the educational system in Kuwait was represented by building traditional schools, while the second stage was represented by building modern schools, followed by the third stage, which began in the early seventies, and was characterized by the introduction of mixed schools into its education system, then came the fourth stage, which began in the late eighties and was characterized by the introduction of private schools into the educational system in Kuwait, and at the end of the stages of development comes the fifth stage, which was characterized by the establishment of international schools, and this step began in the early first decade of the twenty-first century.
The educational systems and curricula in Kuwait have continued to develop until e-learning has become available at many different educational levels and in all universities, whether private or public. In addition, there are many institutes specialized in various fields such as medicine, engineering and entrepreneurship. Some of these institutes even operate on a distance learning system. The State of Kuwait has also begun to support its education with many projects, initiatives and curriculum development, such as the educational loss compensation project in Kuwait and many other diverse educational projects.
Educational stages and the educational system in Kuwait:
Now that we know the stages of development of education and educational curricula in Kuwait , it has become necessary to know the educational stages and the educational system in the State of Kuwait, which are as follows:
The academic year in the State of Kuwait begins in September and ends in June. The academic year is divided into three semesters, each semester lasting approximately eleven weeks, with a two-week break between each semester.
The educational system in Kuwait is divided into three basic educational stages, which are as follows:
Primary education: The primary education stage in Kuwait is a free and compulsory stage for all children aged six years and extends from the first grade to the fifth grade, in which students learn basic skills such as writing, arithmetic, reading, and social studies.
Intermediate stage: This stage extends from the sixth grade to the ninth grade, meaning that this stage extends for three years, and in this stage students build the knowledge and skills that were acquired during the elementary stage.
Secondary education stage: This stage is not mandatory, but most students continue their studies either based on their desire or the desire of their parents. The secondary education stage in Kuwait lasts for four years, i.e. from the ninth grade to the twelfth grade, i.e. from the age of fourteen to eighteen. Secondary education students in Kuwait focus on studying specific subjects that are studied more later. At this stage, you can choose between three types of schools, and these schools are:
- First, public secondary schools: These schools offer broad, comprehensive curricula that prepare students for further studies in university education in Kuwait.
- Second: Technical secondary schools: Technical secondary schools in Kuwait focus on studying vocational and technical subjects. After completing their studies in technical schools, students usually continue their studies at a technical institute or university.
- Third: Religious secondary schools: These schools provide Islamic religious instruction to their students, and prepare and equip them for the Kuwaiti Ministry’s exams.
At the end of the educational stages comes university education in Kuwait, i.e. higher education. The university education stage in Kuwait is characterized as an optional stage. There are many universities and colleges in the State of Kuwait in all specializations and fields. There are private and public educational institutions. Kuwait University is considered the oldest and largest institution of higher education in Kuwait, as it offers a wide variety of postgraduate studies and bachelor’s programs.
What prompted the Kuwaiti government to develop educational curricula in Kuwait?
Due to the rapid progress we are experiencing in our current era, and thanks to the huge amount of diverse knowledge and updated information in all different scientific fields, it was necessary to develop educational curricula in a way that is consistent with the rapid development and progress in all scientific fields, as many updates have occurred in many scientific fields, including deleting, adding and modifying some information that was known to students. The step of developing educational curricula in Kuwait is considered the most important step in developing the educational process as a whole, in addition to striving to find radical and rapid solutions to the problems related to the educational system and educational curricula, and even in the Arab world in general.
A look at the educational curricula in Kuwait (comparison between the old and modern curriculum in Kuwait)
The educational curriculum in Kuwait is set in all schools by the Ministry of Education, however, Kuwaiti private schools often have more flexibility in teaching the curriculum and even offer many additional activities and subjects that are not found in public schools in Kuwait.
The old educational curricula in Kuwait relied on memorizing religious texts, but this curriculum was gradually developed with a curriculum more appropriate to the needs of Kuwaiti students. The new Kuwaiti curriculum has become mainly based on teaching the Arabic language and culture, in addition to studying religious sciences, i.e. Islamic studies. The educational curricula in Kuwait have also begun to pay significant attention to science and mathematics, in addition to the clear interest in physical education and health, to the point that physical education and health are now included as mandatory subjects for all educational levels.
This modern curriculum developed by the Kuwaiti government was introduced in 2011. It is based on the national curriculum developed by the Kuwaiti Ministry of Education. It aims to prepare students for higher education, i.e. university, and to equip them as a workforce. The developed curriculum also relies on integrating Islamic values into the educational curricula in Kuwait, in order to create a diverse and comprehensive educational experience for students in the State of Kuwait.
The modern educational curricula in Kuwait also include English, science, mathematics, social studies, and Islamic studies. English has become a mandatory subject for all Kuwaiti students up to the twelfth grade. Kuwaiti students perform well and honorably on international standardized tests such as PISA and TOEFL. The education system in Kuwait, the modern educational curricula, and the stages of development of Kuwaiti education have been praised, due to the focus of the State of Kuwait and the educational curricula in Kuwait on developing students’ thinking skills, and even developing critical thinking and problem-solving skills, and relying on technological development and the use of technology and modern curricula in all different scientific and educational fields.
E-learning and distance learning in Kuwait:
Kuwait has invested heavily in e-learning and has shown clear interest in distance education. The number of applicants for e-learning has increased significantly, because e-learning provides many advantages compared to traditional education that relies on classrooms. The most prominent advantages of e-learning are:
- E-learning is more flexible and convenient for students, as they can study and learn at any time and place that suits them and at a pace that suits them.
- Moreover, e-learning is less expensive than traditional schools and traditional education, as e-learning does not require expenses for maintaining classrooms or hiring teachers.
- Access study materials, educational resources and course resources easily and from anywhere with an Internet connection.
- E-learning is flexible, as students can choose the subjects and courses that suit them and that they want to study.
- E-learning provides a unique and more personal learning experience than traditional classrooms, as e-learning provides students with the full attention of the teacher.
The Kuwaiti government has set a goal to make e-learning available online in Kuwait for all its citizens. To achieve this, the Kuwaiti government is working hard with specialized companies to develop e-learning platforms and distance learning content. The State of Kuwait also offers huge financial incentives to companies specialized in e-learning to invest in e-learning.
Educational Loss Compensation Project in Kuwait:
The Kuwait Education Loss Compensation Project is considered one of the most important projects adopted by the State of Kuwait, as this project aims to advance the State of Kuwait and its educational system. The Kuwait Education Loss Compensation Project was established in 2011 to provide appropriate financial compensation to students who lost their education due to the Gulf War.
Then a project was re-established to compensate for the educational loss resulting from the Corona pandemic, as this pandemic caused the closure of many schools, universities and institutes for a long period of time, and therefore the State of Kuwait and the resulting closure of schools and universities for a period that is not short, so the State of Kuwait developed this project according to a well-studied systematic plan in order to train Kuwaiti students in basic skills in various main subjects.
The educational loss compensation project in Kuwait has been implemented for students from fourth to ninth grades. This project is implemented in two phases to enable students to acquire the academic materials and information they missed, thus maintaining cumulative education without affecting students or new academic materials. The educational loss compensation project system is implemented daily during the morning period. The first phase starts from July until the end of the month, while the second phase starts from the beginning of August until the end of it.
The role of international organizations and institutions in developing educational curricula in Kuwait:
Many international and local organizations have participated in developing educational curricula in Kuwait and even the educational system, by adopting many development projects and studies that aim to raise the educational level in Kuwait. These initiatives include, for example: literacy programs, teacher training programs, and many other projects, initiatives, and programs that have provided many services to the educational system in Kuwait.
How does Madrasa.com support educational curricula in Kuwait?
One of the most prominent forms of keeping up with scientific progress and modern technology is searching for an online educational platform that supports distance learning, and then obtaining skilled teachers in all subjects who meet the students’ needs for understanding lessons, periodic follow-up, and comprehensive reviews. This is, of course, what the Madrasa.com platform provides, as the Madrasa.com platform provides a distinguished group of teachers in all subjects and with the highest efficiency, especially in educational curricula in Kuwait , in addition to the following:
- The teachers of the Madrasa.com platform are distinguished by their ability to change their teaching methods according to the needs of the students of the State of Kuwait, their level and the extent of their understanding of the educational curricula.
- Teachers on the Madrasa.com platform can also provide students with more support by allowing students to ask more questions that arouse their curiosity and receive immediate answers from Madrasa.com teachers.
- Moreover, Madrasa.com teachers provide a stimulating environment for their students, so that students remain attentive and enthusiastic throughout the learning process.
- Finally, Madrasa.com teachers can help students studying the educational curricula in Kuwait develop various skills that will serve as the cornerstone of their academic endeavors later on.
In conclusion, the State of Kuwait is constantly striving to develop and advance its education and educational system, and even raise educational standards. The State of Kuwait is always proud of the high education rates and low illiteracy rate, and it is still striving to achieve more success, advancement and progress in its educational system.
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