Al-Tabtabaei approves new organizational structure for Ministry of Education

In a major step toward modernizing Kuwait’s educational administration, Minister of Education Dr. Adel Al-Tabtabaei has approved a new organizational structure for the Ministry.

The decision is grounded in a comprehensive technical study aimed at streamlining operations, enhancing efficiency, and reducing administrative overlap across all levels of the Ministry.

The new structure introduces a leaner leadership model, reducing the number of high-level positions to just three: the Undersecretary and two Assistant Undersecretaries. These leaders will oversee two key sectors — Educational Affairs, and Administrative, Financial, and Technical Affairs — which are further divided into 16 general departments, reports Al-Rai daily.

The decision reflects the Ministry’s commitment to effective governance and digital transformation, aiming to improve service quality and ensure alignment with modern educational and administrative trends.

Significant changes include restructuring the Minister’s Office to include six key departments, notably the creation of a Gifted Students Office, and elevating the UNESCO National Commission to the level of a full directorate. The Citizen Service Office was also upgraded to a department-level entity, reaffirming the Ministry’s intent to enhance public service and communication.

A comprehensive legal framework has also been embedded in the new structure through an empowered Legal Affairs Department. This department now comprises five specialized branches focused on court cases, contracts, grievances, investigations, and legal consultations.

Meanwhile, the Public Relations and Educational Media Department has expanded its mandate to include electronic publishing and oversee PR departments across all educational zones.

In an unprecedented move, a clear organizational hierarchy for school administrations has been introduced, including the role of assistant principals and a new Assistant Administrative Director to relieve teachers from administrative burdens. This aims to enhance focus on teaching quality and create room for performance improvement measures within schools.

The Educational Affairs Sector includes newly merged or elevated departments such as the General Administration for Religious and Special Education, and the General Administration of Psychological and Social Services, which now supervise three sub-entities responsible for guidance, field services, and the Ministry’s headquarters operations.

In terms of academic development, the General Administration of Technical Guidance, Research, and Curricula was created to centralize and clarify technical guidance roles. The newly established Evaluation and Measurement Administration will use scientific and performance-based tools to assess students, teachers, and curricula, aligning educational outcomes with national and international standards.

The Administrative, Financial, and Technical Affairs Sector will manage infrastructure, human resources, planning, and technology systems. This includes the General Department of Educational Facilities and Projects, overseeing construction, maintenance, and engineering operations, and the Planning Department, which now reports directly to the Assistant Undersecretary.

It focuses on data analysis, strategy, and policy development, including supervising educational policy and evidence-based frameworks.

Other enhancements involve integrating Educational Technology and Libraries under one umbrella to boost digital learning resources and expanding the School Activities Department to cover scouting and extracurricular engagement across all regions.

The General Administration of Services has also been elevated to meet the demands of the large-scale operations of the Ministry.

This ambitious structural reform demonstrates the Ministry’s broader vision for institutional transformation, grounded in principles of efficiency, specialization, integration, and service excellence. It marks a key milestone in preparing Kuwait’s education system for future challenges and developmental goals.