1,000 expat teachers and technicians allowed to return to Kuwait

Although, the Kuwaiti ministries of education and interior have agreed to renew residency permits of the stranded teachers in major subjects needed in the country. These subjects are physics, chemistry, maths, as well as Arabic and English languages, an Arabic Daily reported, citing well-informed government sources.

But some teaching specialities are no longer needed in Kuwait due to local self-sufficiency in them from Kuwaitis and other Gulf nationals, the sources said.

This includes Islamic education, social studies, practical studies of electricity, mechanics and decoration as well as geology and biology. Therefore, foreign teachers of these subjects will not have their residency permits renewed, according to the same sources. They will obtain their financial dues either through a power of attorney or getting a visit visa to sort out their outstanding affairs in Kuwait, the sources added.

Teachers who have already registered their names in Kuwaiti embassies abroad and their names will be sent to the Interior Ministry next week for residency renewal, according to the sources.

Technicians include social workers, psychology specialists, accountants, and service providers. “Their return will be via transit trips so far, but we have asked the bodies concerned to allow their return directly. We are waiting for a reply,” one source said.

 Last August, Kuwait announced a ban on direct flights from dozens of countries, citing concerns over the spread of COVID-19. The move has stranded thousands of expatriates who were on holiday in the affected countries.