Leadership vacancies in Ministry of Education spark stability struggle

• Dubbed the “Ministry of Vacancies,” the Ministry of Education currently operates with only seven appointed leadership positions and awaits the formation of the new government

• While the Ministry of Education awaits the processing of dozens of pending files, the most crucial of which include preparing a fixed strategy, filling vacancies, implementing standardized curricula, and approving the new structure of the ministry, its members hope to avoid further ministerial changes.

Although the Ministry of Education is anticipated to be included in the upcoming government formation, it has seen five successive ministers in the past five years: Dr. Saud Al-Harbi, Dr. Ali Al-Mudhaf, Dr. Hamad Al-Adwani, and Dr. Adel Al-Mana. Its current minister is Dr. Adel Al-Adwani, who also holds the position of Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research.

According to the ministerial changes, the ministry, which currently has all its leadership positions vacant, is struggling to maintain stability. The plan to fill job vacancies across its sectors and central departments has halted, leading to a return to a state of emptiness reminiscent of its previous eras.

Dubbed the “Ministry of Vacancies,” it currently operates with only seven appointed leadership positions and awaits the formation of the new government.

The ministry has set its hopes on its calm minister, Dr. Adel Al-Adwani, who has not had sufficient time to achieve his goals of addressing sectoral issues and providing stability due to the lack of experience and poor performance among some staff members, which has led to confusion in certain departments.

Dr. Saud Al-Harbi

The ministry, emerging from the COVID-19 pandemic, is burdened by the scars of educational setbacks. It is now time for it to recover after facing significant challenges in its educational journey over the past five years

This period began with the tenure of its former Minister, Dr. Saud Al-Harbi, who initiated a plan to fill administrative vacancies shortly after assuming office. However, in November 2019, the pandemic interrupted this plan, leading to a complete suspension of studies and the implementation of automatic promotion for all students in transitional stages.

Ali Al-Mudhaf

During the pandemic, Minister Dr. Ali Al-Mudhaf took office in December 2020 and successfully organized paper tests, laying the groundwork for an independent strategy for the ministry. This strategy was subject to a fixed supreme council that was independent of the government’s resignation.

However, he then faced the ministry’s biggest challenge, the comprehensive return to in-person studies. Unfortunately, his luck in the ministry did not improve compared to his predecessors, except in terms of duration, as he left the ministry shortly after in the new government formation.

Hamad Al-Adwani

In the second government of former Prime Minister His Highness Sheikh Ahmed Al-Nawaf, Dr. Hamad Al-Adwani was appointed Minister of Education, Higher Education, and Scientific Research on October 16, 2022.

During his tenure, he formed a work team to develop a new structure for the ministry, incorporating some agencies under the umbrella of the Supreme Education Council. However, his resignation on July 17, 2023, halted all those projects and returned the ministry to its starting point.

Adel Al Mana

In September of the same year (2022), Dr. Adel Al-Mana was appointed Minister of Education and Higher Education. He inherited a significant legacy and faced numerous challenges, including several complaints from individuals in the educational field.

This prompted him to establish a grievances committee to address issues of justice, equality, and job satisfaction for all ministry employees. However, reality soon led to conflicts with representatives, ultimately resulting in his departure from the ministry following the crisis involving the suspension of medical scholarships to Egypt and Jordan.

Adel Al-Adwani

Under the government of former Prime Minister His Highness Sheikh Dr. Muhammad Al-Sabah, Dr. Adel Al-Adwani took over the Ministry of Education and Higher Education on January 17 of this year. He announced a roadmap to develop education, enhance its quality, and improve educational indicators in the country through steady steps aligned with local and global developments.

While the Ministry of Education awaits the processing of dozens of pending files, the most crucial of which include preparing a fixed strategy, filling vacancies, implementing standardized curricula, and approving the new structure of the ministry, its members hope to avoid further ministerial changes.

They also hope that the current minister, Dr. Adel Al-Adwani, will be given sufficient time to fulfill his promises and initiatives announced upon taking office.

Achievements in five years

1. Address the air conditioning crisis in schools.
2. Ensure an adequate number of cleaning workers.
3. Renew service contracts and provide school buses.
4. Combat the phenomenon of fraud.
5. Enhance electronic services.
6. Improve distance education.

Files stuck five years ago.

1. Fill vacancies and achieve stability.
2. Develop a fixed strategy.
3. Implement experimental applications of standardized curricula.
4. Approve the new organizational structure.
5. Address the issue of collective absence.
6. Prepare teacher licenses.