Old schools - Monuments of historical value
The old schools in Kuwait are no longer merely witnesses to an important era in the modern history of Kuwaitis, they have become monuments of historical and sentimental value which are linked to the renaissance of education in the country. As society of old showed admiration and love to these aged facilities, the current generation followed in their footsteps, believing it would be essential to turn such schools into museums.
The transformation of old schools into museums is a commendable step taken by the National Council for Culture, Arts and Literature (NCCAL) for the preservation of antiquities, following the issuance of Amiri Decree No 1, the first law of archeology to be issued by the state in recognition of the importance of preserving these buildings. “The council is keen to preserve the old buildings, including the schools that have been turned into museums,” said Fatima AlQabandi, the supervisor of historic buildings at the NCCAL said in an interview with Kuwait News Agency.
She pointed out that the council started the process with the Mubarakiya school, which was established in 1911 by a donation from the people of Kuwait. It is considered the first regular school in Kuwait. She added that the school was named Mubarakiya after late ruler of Kuwait Sheikh Mubarak Al-Sabah, noting that the school was managed by Sheikh Yusuf Al-Qena’i. She said that Astronomer Dr Saleh Al-Ajairi and Fahd Al-Askar were students of that school. In 2012, the council celebrated the 100th anniversary of formal education by opening the Mubarakiya School as a museum of formal education in Kuwait, she stated.
She also recalled the Eastern School for Girls, which was established between 1938 and 1939, saying it started as a school for boys; however, after the increase in the number of female students, it was turned into a school for girls. The Council in 2001 started restoration and maintenance of the building, she said. Al-Qabandi said that the school was opened by the Council in 2008 within the framework of Al-Qurain cultural festival and was given the name of “Museum of Modern Art”. It includes a collection of the National Council, which kicked off with the beginning of the Kuwaiti fine arts. The museum also conducts courses, exhibitions and photography.
Al-Qabandi said that the Eastern School was established in 1946 to accommodate the increasing number of students, including His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah AlAhmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and others who held leadership positions. In 2006, the council opened a school, which was given the name of “Maritime Museum”, which displays marine life in ancient times. The museum consists of various sections including a section on the emergence of Kuwait as a maritime nation in the late 20th century, the manufacture of sailing vessels and other maritime professions.