‘65 percent crimes in country related to drugs sale, consumption’
“UNDOUBTEDLY, youths are considered the pillar of the future. They are the main pillar in the building and progress of Kuwait. The main pillar must be at the highest level of scientific and religious culture,” columnist Nasser Al-Rasheedi wrote for Annahar daily.
“In order to build the future of Kuwait, the Kuwaiti youths must have all the means to work towards success, development and progress.
“Although the State offers all means for the advancement of the youths and to strengthen their resolve, we find something that destroys these means – the spread of drugs in an alarming manner compared to the entire population of Kuwait.
“I read an investigative media report recently and found that drugs is one of the main dangers which must be dealt with as soon as possible and by all means.
“The results of this investigation were staggering – 65 percent of the crimes occur in the country are related to the sale, abuse or promotion of these toxins. The promoters are targeting the younger generation through social media, which has helped spread the scourge of drug addiction.”
Also:
“Based on what was published by the Al-Rai daily last week, the World Bank (WB), says the educational process in the Middle East witnesses a significant setback due to the Coivd-19 pandemic to such an extent 53 percent of children under the age of 10 in this part of the world are unable to read or understand a simple text,” columnist Dr. Turki Al-Azmi wrote for Al-Rai daily.
“Speaking of Kuwait vision 2035 which was submitted by the former British Prime Minister Tony Blair in 2010 along with a team of international and Kuwaiti experts called for concentrating on education and health in addition to the change of curriculums as well as minimizing the volume of bureaucracy.
“Of course, it is the World Bank, which was behind the so-called ‘competency curriculum’ which has failed drastically. Consequently, we found how other countries have successfully adopted their educational methods and made significant progress at the public and higher education levels.
“However, we and some of our colleagues had many years ago hoisted the banner of education reform much before Tony Blair and the World Bank. In this connection, we refer to a conference that was held the end of last April where we submitted a worksheet over both the education and the health complete with recommendations and expressed our readiness to put the same in front of the decision makers.
“However, it is needless to say the recommendations and the studies are many but the level of education outcome is still bad. The members of the teaching staff in both the colleges and the universities realize the danger of this issue, and how the pandemic has negatively affected the students.
“On May 22, 2018, the United Nations General Assembly decided that the world should celebrate the International Day of Parliamentarism on June 30 every year,”columnist Dr Hind Al-Choumar wrote for AlAnba daily.
“Several days after this important occasion, we have the right to ask about the relevant events held – whether by ministries, civil society or the National Assembly – to consider this day a chance to raise awareness on Kuwaiti democracy, challenges in parliamentary work, achievements of the Assembly, its committees and members, and direct or indirect role of Kuwaiti women in parliamentary work.
“This year, the slogan is about the celebration of the role of youths in parliamentary work. They are considered a key to the future, so they must be made aware and prepared early for democratic practices.
“The question about the role of national institutions in celebrating this international occasion is a legitimate right of every citizen, especially the voter who is the main and active element in parliamentary work.”
“Al-Qabas daily published news that the Minister of Commerce and Industry requested for the appointment and renewal of the tenure of about 39 consultants. He obtained approval from the Civil Service Commission (CSC) to appoint 24 of these consultants and work is underway to appoint the rest,” columnist Hamad Al-Merri wrote for Al-Seyassah daily.
“Al-Jarida daily reported that the monthly reward for consultants ranges from KD1,000 to KD1,500 at a total value of KD55,000 per month or KD660,000 annually.
“This is only in one ministry. How about the other ministries and their affiliated bodies? Can the minister choose at least five advisors in each body under him? The number will certainly be huge and costly for the State treasury.
“The current mechanism for appointing or using advisors gives the minister the absolute right to choose any person even if the latter is retired or an employee in another ministry. A decision is issued to appoint him as an advisor for one year renewable. This is a tool for favoritism and politeness in the name of friendship, tribe, political current or sectarianism.
“We have seen this with our own eyes in several bodies and ministries. Once the minister or director assumes office, decisions are issued to seek the assistance of people from outside the ministry and the institution as consultants. The financial rewards are given to them monthly without them providing a single consultation or getting benefits from them.
“This mechanism of hiring and appointing advisors is one of the reasons behind the spread of administrative corruption in the corridors of ministries and government agencies. It happened because the issue is assigned to people who are not qualified. This is wastage of State budget for the sake of favoritism and nepotism.
“For this reason, the government must amend the appointment mechanism and use the expertise of others as consultants by specifying the number — not more than three advisors to the ministry and affiliated bodies. This post should be given only to employees in the ministry or affiliated body who hold university or higher degrees and have experience of not less than 15 years in this field.
“Such advisors must be obligated to submit written consultations and research — not less than three researches and consultancy in the field they were assigned. In this manner, the ministry and the authority can benefit from them. It will also stop financial wastage in the form of allocations for the current consultants.”