Kuwait City: As the end of the academic year nears, the Ministry of Education is working towards preparing all schools so that 12th grade students can take the exams in person, local media reported.
The Ministry of Health conducted random visits to schools last month, and it was revealed that the schools were not ready for in-person exams. Since then, the Ministry of Education has been working to prepare all 312 schools designated for in- person written exams by next week.
In line with the health procedures, all schools will prepare so that tables are at least six metres apart, protective equipment (masks and sanitisers) are made available and there is a sufficient number of cleaning staff at each school.
In addition, teachers and administrative staff are receiving training courses by the Ministry of Health so that they are prepared to monitor and oversee the entire process.
Public vs Private
While all schools were given the green light to conduct in-person exams for 12th grade students, some private schools opted out preferring to conduct exams online. Last month, the British Accreditation Authority (BAA) cancelled all paper exams for high school students attending British schools in Kuwait.
Vaccination process
Students above the age of 16, teachers and school staff have all been prioritised to receive the vaccine given that they will be showing up in-person for exams.
The Ministry of Health revealed that out of the 109,574 teachers and administrative staff, 88,812 have received at least the first jab of the COVID-19 vaccine.
As for students, those between the ages of 16 and 19, 72.75 per cent of those who have registered have gotten the vaccine, with those under 18 receiving the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine as it is safe for those between 16-18 years old.
