Row over mandatory English language test in Kuwait rages

22 MPs say IELTS exam for overseas scholarships targets some tribes

The controversy in Kuwait surrounding the imposition of an English language proficiency test as a requirement to obtain a government overseas scholarship has deepened after 22 lawmakers expressed their opposition amid accusations that it was targeting specific tribes.

Last year, Kuwait introduced the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) for those who applied to go to universities abroad, and Education Minister Hamed Al Azemi this year wanted to apply it.

The ministry explained that it made the English language proficiency test for higher education compulsory after some students failed in their first year of university studies due to their linguistic limits.

Lawmakers Jamaan Al Harbash and Adel Al Damkhi then opposed the application of the new requirement and last week called for dropping it, threatening action against the minister if he did not respond positively.

But various other lawmakers objected and insisted the ministry keep the requirement for the sake of the nation and the students.

The standoff is now threatening to blow up in the face of the parliament and the government after 22 lawmakers aligned themselves against the minister, with some of them asserting that it was meant to exclude regular government school students and “the sons of Kuwaiti tribes”.

Lawmakers have argued that private schools, where

Lawmakers have argued that private schools, where the teaching medium is often English, had an edge over public school students, where Arabic language is the medium.

the teaching medium is often English, had an edge over public school students, where Arabic language is the medium.

“It is obvious that the objective of the proficiency test decision is to deprive public school graduates from scholarships,” MP Khalid Al Otaibi said.

“It lacks the basic sense of justice and equal opportunity and Kuwait will slide into a major political crisis because of it. Everyone needs to be aware that education and the future of our sons and daughters are a red line that cannot be crossed.”

MP Mubarak Al Hajraf said the government was aiming at reducing the number of students who could study abroad.

“Their real aim is to control the elections of the student unions abroad that are dominated by the sons of tribes and to boost the status of private colleges,” he said.

However, MP Raken Al Nusf confronted Al Hajraf’s statement, saying that all students were Kuwaiti nationals.

MP Ahmad Al Fadhl was highly critical of those who opposed the proficiency test.