Kuwait‘s private education system is moving rapidly toward an unknown skyline as a municipal decision is forcing the relocation of private schools from residential areas before the conclusion of the 2027–2028 educational year. Additionally, schools planning to relocate must have permission from the General Traffic Department and must carry out a traffic-impact study. This ruling has sparked an intense debate surrounding the long-term effects of this action and highlights issues regarding urban design, the historical significance of private education in Kuwait, and the actual cost of creating “safer streets.”
Private schools have been a part of everyday life in Kuwait since the early katateeb schools and the establishment of the Al Mubarakiya School in 1911. As of April 2018, there are approximately 1,200 public and private schools in Kuwait, which accommodate an estimated 600,000 students—349,000 of them being from the private sector. Therefore, quantifying the loss of these schools and their impact on the community proves challenging.
Two-and-a-half years might not seem long to an owner (or principal), but relocating a campus is a long, complicated process that involves many logistical, legal, and financial hurdles (e.g., acquiring land to purchase or lease, getting the necessary approvals, and building an appropriate facility).
Many long-established campuses (such as NES) and larger institutions (such as FAIPS) are opposed to the allocation of land to new areas (like Mahboula and Jahra) because related fees would be higher, longer commutes would be needed, and the communities would become split apart.
Administrators who spoke with the media pointed out that many schools have multi-generational connections to their alumni, who are now parents of students that are currently in those schools. They also state that there is little information on the compensation and support from the state related to these issues.
Those in favor of relocating schools, including many residents and developers, believe that this move will reduce congestion at home for families by decreasing noise and creating less crowded areas. Opponents of supporters of the schools say that more congestion will be caused by poor design of roads and a lack of enforcement of the rules of transferring multi-family homes compared to moving schools.
They also agree that by clustering schools in a central location and creating purpose-built campuses, the result will be improved facilities that provide better opportunities for students (i.e., improved sports facilities, more parking spaces, and safer campuses)—but at the same time, creating more congestion in the areas where the students will be travelling to.
Kuwait must find a way to fix the problems of overcrowded urban areas without damaging communities that depend on private schools for social support. Ultimately, this will affect where children go to school, where families want to live, and how the city of Kuwait City will change over time—this policy will have impacts beyond those related to the classrooms that it intends to relocate.
