CSC suspends new teachers over accreditation of docus

Proposal eyed to protect children from media

KUWAIT CITY, Sept 23: The educational sector is in a dilemma due to the instruction of the Civil Service Commission (CSC) for the Ministry of Education to suspend newly hired teachers, including Kuwaitis, until their certificates are accredited by the Ministry of Higher Education, reports Al-Rai daily quoting a reliable source.

The source wondered about this procedure which does not exclude Kuwaiti teachers who graduated from Kuwait University or the Public Authority for Applied Education and Training (PAAET). The source said the Ministry of Education is now confused whether to address Kuwait University or PAAET, pointing out these institutions will respond that the certificate is valid but this is not enough since Minister of Education and Higher Education Dr Hamed Al-Azmi issued a decision to form a committee on Sept 3, 2019 to edit the executive decree on certificate equivalence.

The decision to suspend newly appointed teachers resulted in a big problem in schools which lack teachers, leading to an increase in the number of classes allotted for teachers – up to 18 classes per week.

The Ministry of Education used to take certain procedures to verify the certificates of teachers through the cultural offices of labor exporting countries but such procedures are not enough to prevent forgery. A large number of graduate certificates and certificates of experiences have been found to be fake, the source added.

Meanwhile, MP Muhammad Al-Dala has expressed desire to submit a proposal, which consists of regulations to be set up by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor, in cooperation with each of the ministries of Information and Interior to deal with issues concerning children in the media, reports Al-Rai daily.

He suggests that the proposal would set up general regulations for members of the society toward dealing with children, and among them the stories or photos of the children of unknown parents are to be published online or exposed under any circumstance.

In the same context, MP Al-Dalal asked the Minister of Social Affairs and Labor Saad Al-Kharaz if there is any hotline for receiving cases of child abuse, and whether or not the hotline is active or the public have been made aware of it based on Article 77 of child protection act.

He also asked if there are plans and programs that warrant child protection, and the body responsible for it, and if there is coordination with other institutions concerned with child protection.

Al-Dalal requested proof of cases the ministry has handled with regard to child abuse, and also requested copies of study and researches done to prevent repetition of such abuses on children, as well as programs or procedures set to treat children who have been abused in any aspect of life.