KUWAIT: Kuwait’s Ministry of Education has completed the development of new national curricula for kindergarten through Grade 9, just months after Education Minister Jalal Al-Tabtabaei ordered a full overhaul in April. In a high-level meeting with subject supervisors on Monday, the Ministry revealed new details about the scope and structure of the redesigned curriculum — part of a sweeping reform aimed at modernizing teaching standards, lightening student workload and aligning education with global benchmarks.

The minister emphasized the need for strong coordination between curriculum developers and educators to ensure smooth implementation. “Comprehensive training plans must be developed to prepare teachers for the new curriculum,” Al-Tabtabaei said, noting that training sessions will be held before the start of the 2025-2026 school year. The Ministry confirmed that 88 textbooks have been completed for the first semester alone: 2 for kindergarten, 46 for the primary stage, and 40 for the intermediate stage. All books are now undergoing final language and design reviews in preparation for printing. To ease student load, the new textbooks will be printed in four smaller parts, spaced throughout the school year. The goal is to improve content delivery while reducing the weight of schoolbags.

Training for teachers will begin ahead of the 2025-2026 academic year, with sessions offered both in person and online via Microsoft Teams. “Comprehensive training plans must be developed to prepare teachers for the new curriculum,” Minister Al-Tabtabaei said. He underscored the importance of collaboration between authors and field educators to ensure effective implementation.

One of the most significant changes affects the English curriculum, which now aligns with the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) and international tests such as IELTS and TOEFL. The new program focuses on developing well-rounded learners with strong listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills, targeting CEFR levels A1 to B1.

Arabic language instruction has also been upgraded to reinforce critical thinking and communication. The redesigned Arabic textbook includes four teaching units, each built around two key themes that support a full range of language skills. “The design of the book reflects a high-quality national educational effort that aims to support teachers and achieve effective learning outcomes,” the ministry said.

New learning methods have also been introduced across the board. The curriculum incorporates 21st-century skills such as critical analysis, self-learning and problem-solving. Social studies content — now introduced from Grade 1 — aims to strengthen national identity through newly developed books. Science and math subjects will adopt a problem-based learning model through the STEM approach. The curriculum also aims to be inclusive, with adaptations that account for individual learning differences and the needs of gifted students.

The ministry emphasized that the entire redesign was developed locally by experienced Kuwaiti educators, supervisors and subject experts. “The curriculum philosophy was built by national hands according to scientific standards to ensure that educational goals are met,” the statement concluded. — Agencies

KUWAIT: The Ministry of Interior announced the arrest of 153 violators and wanted individuals during a wide-scale security campaign conducted across the country. The crackdown comes in line with the directives of First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Fahad Yousef Saud Al-Sabah, as part of ongoing efforts to uphold public order and enforce the rule of law.

In a statement issued Monday, the General Department of Security Relations and Media said the campaign was launched at dawn last Thursday under the direct supervision of Acting Undersecretary of the Ministry of Interior, Major General Ali Al-Adwani. It targeted several densely populated areas, including Hawally, Salmiya, Jahra and Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh. The ministry stressed that operations carried out by the General Department of Residence Affairs Investigations are continuing to track down violators of residency and labor laws. It reiterated that legal accountability will extend to both workers and employers, affirming that no leniency will be shown towards any violator.

In a separate development, the Ministry of Interior reported the arrest of a citizen accused of operating an illegal cryptocurrency mining in a rented property in Sabah Al-Ahmad Residential City. The ministry noted that cryptocurrency mining is prohibited due to its high electricity consumption, which places significant strain on the national power grid and threatens its stability.

The ministry’s Public Relations and Security Media Department explained that the arrest was made following field investigations, which revealed that the house in question belonged to an individual whose citizenship was recently revoked. A search warrant was obtained from the Public Prosecution, and the property was subsequently raided.

During initial investigations, the accused confessed to resuming mining activities two weeks prior, having previously concealed the equipment amid an earlier security campaign. The ministry confirmed that the mining devices were confiscated and that the Ministry of Electricity, Water and Renewable Energy was notified to take appropriate technical and legal action regarding the illegal power usage. The suspect has been referred to the competent authorities for further legal procedures. — KUNA

KUWAIT: Kuwait is implementing an ambitious national strategy to modernize its healthcare infrastructure, improve service quality, and expand access to treatment. Under the framework of its 2024/2025 development plan, the country has allocated around KD 140 million to a portfolio of 20 public health projects aimed at improving care delivery and long-term system sustainability. According to the Ministry of Health, 13 of these projects are currently in the execution phase, three are in preparatory stages, two are in final delivery, and two have been completed.

Major projects underway

Speaking to Kuwait News Agency (KUNA), Assistant Undersecretary for Engineering and Projects at the Ministry of Health Ibrahim Al-Nahham, said the ministry is working to complete several large-scale health infrastructure projects in line with international standards. One of the latest additions to Kuwait’s healthcare infrastructure is the New Maternity Hospital in the Sabah Health Zone, which was inaugurated in April. So far, only the outpatient clinic has been opened to patients, while the main facility — which includes operating and delivery rooms as well as inpatient wards — is expected to open soon, according to a KTV report aired this week.

Four major construction projects are currently underway: The New Sabah Hospital; The New Adan Hospital; The Communicable Diseases Hospital; and The Kuwait Cancer Center. The latter two are expected to open in the coming days, Al-Nahham told KUNA.

New Al-sabah Hospital

Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Building at the New Adan Hospital

Assistant Undersecretary for Engineering Affairs and Projects, Eng. Ibrahim Al-Nahham

New Infectious Diseases Hospital

The Childhood and Motherhood Building at new Adan Hospital

The New Sabah Hospital spans over 88,710 square meters with a total built-up area of 280,636 square meters. It features 512 inpatient beds, 105 ICU beds, and 72 outpatient clinics across multiple specialties. The main facility consists of three towers, a helipad for emergency transport, and support buildings, including parking and technical services.

The Communicable Diseases Hospital will offer 224 inpatient beds and eight ICU beds. It also includes departments for emergency services, radiology, pharmacy, and medical records. The Kuwait Cancer Center will cover 226,525 square meters and is planned to operate with 618 beds using fully automated systems.

As for the New Adan Hospital, it is being developed as a multi-facility complex of seven interconnected buildings, including a maternity and pediatrics hospital, a surgical building, rehabilitation center, and administrative offices for the Ahmadi Health Zone. Underground tunnels will connect the facilities to streamline operations and patient care.

International collaboration

In parallel with infrastructure upgrades, Kuwait continues to strengthen its cooperation with international and regional partners. This includes agreements to support medical training, digital systems, and public health initiatives. Locally, several memoranda of understanding have been signed with other government entities to promote the National Healthy Cities Strategy. The goal is to raise awareness on healthy living and convert policy strategies into actionable projects.

Internationally, the Ministry of Health has held a series of meetings in recent months with European Union ambassadors and health representatives to exchange expertise and explore training and research collaboration. In July, Health Minister Dr Ahmad Al-Awadhi signed five memoranda of understanding with leading medical institutions in Paris to support knowledge exchange and bilateral health cooperation. The partnerships aim to enhance specialized care in areas such as oncology, cardiology, and organ transplants. One of the key components is the development of telemedicine services that would allow Kuwaiti patients and physicians to access expert opinions and diagnostic support remotely.

Healthy cities initiative

The ministry also continues its long-term collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), which formally opened a country office in Kuwait four years ago. WHO has recognized Kuwait’s ongoing initiatives to promote public health and sustainability. Kuwait launched its Healthy Cities initiative around a decade ago, aligning with global efforts to meet the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. As of this year, 18 Kuwaiti cities are registered on the WHO’s Eastern Mediterranean Regional Healthy Cities Network, and seven have received formal recognition. According to the United Nations, a “healthy city” is not one that is already healthy, but one that commits to improving the living environment for all residents. The WHO defines such cities as places that prioritize health in urban planning, promote community participation, and support equitable access to services.

The government also invests heavily in the development of local medical talent. This includes scholarships for Kuwaiti students to study medicine and pharmacy abroad, as well as cooperation agreements with universities and health institutions worldwide. The goal is to build a workforce capable of meeting future health challenges.

In recent months, Kuwait successfully conducted nine advanced robotic surgeries remotely, demonstrating the growing capabilities of its local medical teams. This reflects broader efforts to reduce the number of patients sent abroad for treatment by expanding access to specialized care locally. — Agencies