Kuwait reiterates permanent, absolute support for UNESCO
Kuwaiti delegation to UNESCO General Conference.
PARIS, Nov 16, (KUNA): Kuwait has reiterated its permanent and absolute support for the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
At such a difficult phase of human history, the world faces major challenges, some of which linked to political, economic, and social issues and others to impacts of the scientific and technological development, Kuwaiti Education Ministry’s Undersecretary Saud Al-Harbi said.
Al-Harbi made his remarks in a speech, on behalf of Minister of Education and Higher Education Dr. Hamed Al-Azmi, at the 40th Session of UNESCO General Conference.
He expressed his country’s aspiration to offer a high-level education that empowers people with their rights and propel them forward into self-development and decent living.
Al-Harbi also stressed the importance of education in boosting peaceful coexistence, peace, openness to others regardless of their ethnic background, religion, belief, lifestyle, or culture.
The Kuwaiti official also underscored the significance of human cooperation in solving life problems, particularly ones related to environment and development.
The fourth of Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) meant to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all to help them achieve progress and prosperity, and overcome human differences such as ethnicity, color, religion, and culture, he noted.
To achieve such a goal, major reconsiderations must be made for educational policies that, in turn, transform objectives and desires into real and practical procedures, Al-Harbi said, pointing out that transparency and accountability are the key to success in educational policies.
Kuwait seeks diligently to attain (SDG 4) continuously and on a large scale, especially since education in the country is based on laws and legislations that made it a main component of human rights, affirmed the Kuwaiti official.
The Kuwaiti Constitution’s articles 10, 13, and 40 stipulated everyone’s right in education without discrimination, he noted, adding it has also drafted a law in 1965 stating education is compulsory. However, the law was amended in 2015 to achieve further equality, justice, and democracy for education in Kuwait.
The Kuwaiti legal structure has helped achieving other objectives immensely, including early childhood, Al-Harbi noted, indicating the Kuwaiti government designed new educational programs that meet this modern stage requirements, especially since the enrollment rate for kindergarten has surpassed 80 percent at state schools, while the rest enrolls in private schools.
Furthermore, Al-Harbi affirmed his country’s keenness to secure women right in education and equality alongside men without discrimination at all educational stages, adding Law No. 8/2006 has empowered the handicapped to acquire their right in education just like other students, as well as their integration in schools.
As for higher education development in Kuwait, the Cabinet has issued private universities law in 2000, and state universities in 2019, in addition to the recent opening of a new state of the art building for Kuwait University, indicated the Kuwaiti official.
Moreover, Kuwait grants scholarships in higher education in accordance with specified criteria, in addition to scholarships in general education that include more than 40 countries around the world, mentioned Al-Harbi.
Kuwait firmly believes in the role of humanitarian efforts in solving the problems and challenges facing some world countries, he noted, adding it has also pledged since its independence to follow such a humanitarian approach away from political calculations and interests.
Kuwait’s support stems from a solid humanitarian approach that believes in people’s right in decent living, security, and existence, Al-Harbi said, recalling his country’s presidency of several donors’ conferences for the Syrian people in the years 2013, 2014, and 2015.
Kuwait also presided the donors’ conference in 2016 in London and in 2017 in Brussels, in which it donated a total of $one billion and $600,000, of which $250 million was deducted for educational services, said the senior official.
Kuwaiti public philanthropic institutions continue to support needy and poor people around the world, he mentioned, noting these nations, beside from facing famine, poverty, illiteracy, and education deficiency issues, are torn by wars and conflicts that destroyed not only their infrastructures, but also their humanity that was infected by concepts of racisms, sectarianism, and terrorism.
Al-Harbi reaffirmed his country’s support and appreciation of UNESCO and its great humanitarian message, which constantly remind the world of the various problems and challenges faced by some countries and people, particularly in education.