Kuwait allows teachers, staff extended hours in schools

• Hamad Al-Houli, the President of the Teachers Association, emphasizes that testing and corrections are essential tasks, requiring staff presence in schools after hours. Immediate supervisors and higher-ups must be informed about any staff or student present after official hours for reporting to the educational district.

Hessa Al-Mutawa, Acting Assistant Undersecretary for Public Education at the Ministry of Education, announced that teachers and administrative staff will have permission to stay in schools beyond official working hours as per their actual requirements.

This came in response to observations made by the Teachers Association regarding the bulletin prohibiting the presence of educational and administrative staff members after official working hours and its negative impact on workflow within schools.

In this context, Hamad Al-Houli, the association’s President, praised undersecretary Al-Mutawa’s cooperation, highlighting her understanding and swift response to the feedback. She issued a letter dated May 14 of this year to school administrations, allowing staff presence in schools after official hours based on actual work needs and following coordination and approval from the educational district. This action is in line with instructions from regulatory authorities and aims to maintain security and safety.

Al-Houli explained that testing, monitoring, and correction tasks constitute actual work needs. This necessitates the presence of educational and administrative staff in schools after official working hours. It’s essential for the immediate supervisor and the subsequent personnel in the job hierarchy to be aware of this and to transfer the information of any employee or student present after official hours to the educational district.