Kuwait Education Ministry tightens rules on school conduct, photography and fundraising
The Ministry of Education has issued a comprehensive circular outlining new controls governing professional conduct and administrative and educational practices in schools, with strict measures aimed at strengthening discipline, protecting students’ privacy and safeguarding public funds.
The circular, issued by Undersecretary of the Ministry of Education Dr Khaled Al-Rashid, requires all schools, teaching and administrative staff and other employees to comply with a range of regulations and prohibitions governing day-to-day school operations.
The measures are based on Ministerial Resolution No. 151 of 2026 concerning the comprehensive regulatory framework for education, along with regulations governing health and food requirements, Ministry of Finance rules on accepting gifts and donations, and the Civil Service Commission’s code of conduct for government employees.
Ban on collecting money and accepting donations
One of the key provisions prohibits schools and their staff from collecting money or accepting cash, in-kind gifts or donations from teachers, administrators, students or parents for any purpose.
The circular also prohibits the sale or promotion of goods and services to students or employees and bans the use of official positions or school facilities for personal or financial gain. All purchasing, contracting, payment and collection procedures must be carried out strictly in accordance with approved regulations.
Strict controls on school canteens
The ministry has also introduced tighter controls on school canteens.. Schools are prohibited from selling, distributing or bringing food and beverages from unapproved sources onto school premises. Canteens must comply with the health regulations issued by the Public Authority for Food and Nutrition and the Ministry of Education.
Food distributed during school events must also meet approved health and safety requirements, with schools required to verify the source, storage and safety of food products. School administrations must maintain a daily monitoring record for canteen operations, documenting any violations, including non-compliant food products or breaches of health requirements by canteen workers.
The ministry has further instructed schools to enforce the terms of canteen contracts. Contractors found in violation must be given at least three working days to rectify the problem, failing which the contract may be terminated in accordance with the applicable regulations.
Prior approval required for events and filming
The circular prohibits schools from organizing events, activities or celebrations involving guests from outside the Ministry of Education without obtaining prior written approval from the competent authority. Schools are also prohibited from inviting or contracting outside institutions, organizations or individuals to conduct activities without official approval.
Any event or activity must have a clear educational objective and be included in the school’s approved plan. The use of the Ministry of Education’s name or logo, or the name of a school, in advertisements, publications or commercial sponsorships is also prohibited without the required official approvals.
Restrictions on photography and social media
The ministry has imposed strict restrictions on photographing students and employees. Students may not be photographed, recorded or have their images or personal information published without prior written consent that meets the applicable requirements.
The circular also prohibits the circulation of students’ photographs through private social-media accounts or groups, or linking photographs to personal information or using them for purposes unrelated to education. School staff are also prohibited from photographing ministry workplaces or employees and publishing such material by exploiting their official positions.
Confidentiality and official statements
The circular prohibits the disclosure or leaking of school documents, confidential information and personal data relating to students, parents or employees. Staff may not request information unrelated to their work or misuse information obtained through their official duties.
No employee may issue statements, publish news or content on behalf of the Ministry of Education or a school, or use official logos on personal pages or advertisements, without authorization from the competent authority. The ministry also warned against publishing rumours, false information or content deemed offensive to the ministry, schools, students or employees.
Violations to be referred for investigation
The ministry said organizing an event without obtaining the required approvals constitutes an administrative violation and may result in immediate referral to the Ministry’s Legal Affairs Department for investigation and the application of disciplinary measures under the applicable regulations.
The circular emphasizes the importance of professional conduct, integrity and respect in schools, stressing that teachers and administrators serve as role models for students. Staff are required to maintain respectful relationships with students, safeguard their physical and psychological wellbeing and avoid behaviour that falls outside the approved educational framework.
The ministry also called for greater cooperation between teaching and administrative staff and instructed employees to resolve workplace disputes through official administrative channels.
Mobile phone restrictions during lessons
Teaching staff are prohibited from using mobile phones or smart devices during classes except for educational purposes. The ministry said such use must not interfere with the teacher’s professional duties or disrupt the progress of the lesson.
Immediate action against violations
The Ministry of Education said it would take the necessary administrative and legal measures against violations of the regulations and would not tolerate conduct that undermines professional standards or school discipline.
School administrations have been instructed to inform all employees of the circular, document that they have read it and make it available through official communication channels. Where necessary, school administrations must immediately stop a violation, preserve relevant evidence, prepare an incident report and refer the matter through the administrative chain to the competent authority.
The circular takes effect from the date of its issuance and cancels any previous internal instructions that conflict with its provisions.
