Schools seek exemption from teaching Quran

Administrators of several foreign schools in Kuwait are seeking help from Dr Rasheed Al Hamad, Minister of Education and Higher Education, to exempt their schools from teaching the Holy Quran, reported Arabic daily Al Watan quoting reliable sources.

But the religious leadership vigorously opposes the move and has called on the minister to maintain the status quo regarding the teaching of the Holy Quran in all schools in Kuwait, the source added.

"Foreign schools, particularly European and American educational institutes, consider themselves exempt from teaching the Holy Quran on account of a ministerial decision by former minister of education and higher education Dr Ahmad Al Rubei which stated the Holy Quran should be taught in public schools, the source said.

Professor of Religious Teaching at the Kuwait University Sr Bassam Al Shatti, in his reaction to the newspaper report, said the issue is being discussed again unnecessarily since the decision was made six years ago.

He said there was no difference between private and public schools. Al Shatti said the Holy Quran must be taught in all schools since a majority of the students were Muslims and there was no justification for raising such controversial issues from time to time.

The teaching of the Holy Quran and Arabic is essential at all the public and private, foreign and local schools in Kuwait and ministry inspectors visit schools regularly to check the progress and test the students' level of knowledge.