The Ministry of Education directed specialized sectors to begin implementing a phased strategy aimed at resolving surpluses in various academic disciplines and enhancing the efficiency of human resources and financial management, according to a statement carried by Al-Rai on Monday. Minister of Education Engineer Jalal Al-Tabtabai issued the directive, which emphasizes optimal use of available cadres while maintaining stability in the educational process. The approach builds on detailed studies of teacher distributions, shortage indicators and future school needs to create an evidence-based framework for workforce adjustments.
Ministry figures place the total number of teaching staff, excluding those in supervisory positions, at approximately 91,761. Kuwaiti nationals account for 70.6 percent of this total, the ministry’s data shows. Educators from GCC countries and those residing illegally represent 10.1 percent, while those from Arab and other nationalities make up 19.3 percent of the overall teaching body.
The initial phase focuses on ending contracts for 7,019 teachers contracted from Arab and other nationalities in specializations where statistics reveal surpluses beyond actual requirements, the ministry reported. Relevant departments have already started the necessary executive procedures for this stage. Notifications to those affected will be sent through the Sahl government application in full compliance with established administrative, legal and regulatory standards that safeguard their employment rights.
Implementation of this first phase is projected to generate annual savings estimated at KD 42 million from the salaries budget alone, according to the ministry. The adjustments will also help realign teaching numbers more closely with schools’ precise needs. Officials expect the changes to strengthen overall management of public resources and prevent future accumulation of surpluses in the education sector.
The ministry based the entire plan on comprehensive research into current and projected staffing levels across all subjects and school stages. This data-driven process ensures that reductions target only areas of genuine excess without disrupting classroom operations. Subsequent phases will continue the gradual rollout as part of a longer-term effort to optimize the teaching workforce.
Similar Kuwaitization initiatives have appeared in recent years across government bodies, including a June 2025 decision by the Ministry of Islamic Affairs to terminate 83 expatriate teachers in Islamic studies and Quranic sciences, Times Kuwait reported at the time. Those earlier steps likewise sought to open opportunities for Kuwaiti nationals while rationalizing public expenditure on salaries. The current education plan extends this policy direction with a broader, statistics-backed framework applied to the full school system.
