Kuwait Teachers’ Society urges swift action on delays in staff evaluations and leave processing

The Kuwait Teachers’ Society has called on the Ministry of Education to urgently address persistent delays in the processing of reports, assignments, and leave requests for school staff. It also recommended extending the staff evaluation period until these issues are fully resolved.

In a letter addressed to Mansour Al-Dhafiri, Acting Assistant Undersecretary for Administrative Affairs and Administrative Development, the Society expressed its gratitude for the Ministry’s continued collaboration and commitment to improving the educational process.

The letter, according to Al-Rai daily, noted the Ministry’s efforts to form support teams aimed at expediting administrative procedures, as well as its coordination with the Civil Service Bureau concerning attendance verification.

The Society also referenced a recent response from the Bureau, which confirmed that a direct supervisor or an authorized delegate has the authority to validate an employee’s attendance, provided there is evidence confirming the employee was present at the workplace during official hours.

The Society presented several proposals on behalf of educators to help resolve the issue:

• Extend the annual evaluation period until all official duties, assignments, and attendance records are entered.
• Authorize direct supervisors to record assignments, approve emergency leave, and make corrections to fingerprint-based attendance if the employee’s presence is confirmed.
• Allow supervisors to update and approve exit permits for expatriate teachers.
• Urgently coordinate with the Civil Service Bureau to approve pending reimbursements older than 30 days.
• Issue a formal circular clarifying the authority of direct supervisors in addressing forgotten or incorrect fingerprints for school staff and technical supervisors, based on the Bureau’s guidelines.

The Society emphasized that these measures reflect the views and concerns of educators in the field and are essential to ensuring smooth administrative processes and fair staff evaluations.