Kuwait issues ultimatum to students enrolled in Philippine colleges

Manama: Kuwait has given its students attending colleges in the Philippines until the end of July to return home and take up studies in other countries whose degrees are endorsed by the higher education ministry.

The move to relocate the students was based on the ministry's decision not to recognise degrees from universities in several countries, including the ones in the Philippines, Awan daily reported on Wednesday.

Hundreds of Kuwaiti students are enrolled at universities and colleges in the Philippines where many are taking up distance learning in courses that include engineering.

Kuwait's higher education ministry last year said that it would stop recognizing degrees awarded by several private universities in the Arab world, Asia and Eastern Europe.

The ministry attributed the step to reports based on fact-finding missions that they do not meet its standards.