Coronavirus: Kuwait extends schools, universities suspension to August 4, 2020

Kuwait Government decided on Thursday to resume studies for grade 12 by next August and the remaining grades in October, part of the State’s efforts to preserve wellbeing of students amidst spread of coronavirus because health situation in coming 8-10 weeks was unsuitable.

Minister of Education and Minister of Higher Education Dr. Saud Al-Harbi, at a joint news conference with government spokesman Tareq Al-Mezrem, said some 38,000 students in grade 12 would resume on August 4. He said the students would have 5-6 weeks to complete modified curricula until late September.

Al-Harbi said Grades 1-11 would resume studies on October 4. The start of next academic year would be in December, 2020, said Al-Harbi.

He explained expatriate teachers and staff would be allowed to return to their countries until before resumption of studies.

Al-Mezrem said closure of public and private schools, colleges and universities would be extended and they would reopen on Tuesday, August 4.

Al-Mezrem, meanwhile, said the government assigned the Ministry of Commerce and Industry to coordinate with the public authority for industry and Kuwait Airways to import basis food needs. It also assigned Ministry of Defense and Ministry of Health to set up a field hospital at the International Fairs Group as soon as possible, he said.

Al-Mezrem also assigned the MoD, MoH and relevant authorities to take legal action against people violating the communicable disease law.