The Civil Service Commission has issued a circular to government agencies, outlining the conditions under which government employees can combine work and study.
The CSC head Dr. Essam Al-Rubaian, said employees can pursue studies at their own expense after their appointment, without the need for leave or a scholarship. However, the study must take place within Kuwait and should not conflict with the official working hours at the employer. It is essential for employees to maintain regularity at work despite their study commitments, reports Al-Qabas daily.
The circular emphasizes that employees must inform their employers about their enrollment in self-funded studies outside the scope of scholarships and study leaves.
Employers are responsible for monitoring the employee’s study-related impact on attendance and work hours, as well as their commitment to job duties. Line managers are tasked with verifying the employee’s regularity at work during the study period and ensuring accurate attendance and departure tracking.
If any employee is found to have neglected their job duties due to their studies, the employer must take necessary legal actions, and the employee may face disciplinary measures accordingly.
The circular clarifies that combining work and study outside the scope of scholarships and study leaves does not automatically result in any changes to the employee’s status, position, job level, or entitlement to allowances, bonuses, or other financial benefits.
However, the employer may, at their discretion and based on their needs, decide to benefit from the obtained qualification, particularly if it aligns with approved specializations in the entity’s scholarship plan. In such cases, the employer may make appropriate financial or functional adjustments.
It is important to note that employees are not entitled to request changes to their working hours system during the study period, and the combination of work and study does not obligate the management body to modify their existing working hours system. The employee is expected to submit their study schedule for each semester to ensure that it does not conflict with their work responsibilities.
