Kuwait launches incentives to attract teachers in undersupplied subjects

Cairo: Kuwait has approved a financial bonus for Kuwaiti and other Gulf nationals teaching rare or undersupplied subjects in schools, in a bid to curb teacher shortages, according to Al Seyassah newspaper.

The decision, made by Kuwait’s Civil Service Commission, applies to teachers currently employed by the Ministry of Education during the 2023–2024 academic year.

The incentive targets educational specializations where Kuwaitis and GCC nationals make up less than 30% of the workforce, as per the approved regulations.

The bonus will be disbursed for subjects that meet this scarcity threshold. The Ministry of Education is expected to coordinate annually with the commission to reassess staffing needs.

The initiative aims to stimulate interest among national and Gulf talent in joining the education sector and to help bridge existing workforce gaps.

Current shortages include high school subjects like French, mathematics, and physics, where the proportion of Kuwaiti teachers stands at around 18%, 5%, and 11.2%, respectively. Similar shortages are also reported in science teaching roles at the primary and middle school levels.