Kuwait: Vaccination campaign to be 'launched in schools' soon

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MoE to tackle 'absenteeism'
KUWAIT CITY, March 5: The Ministry of Education (MoE) will launch a vaccination campaign against measles in schools next week, reports Awan daily quoting sources.

Sources confirmed the Ministry of Health (MoH) intends to combat the disease through a comprehensive vaccination campaign throughout the country.Sources said the ministry has formed the higher, media and executive committees to carry out the campaign.

On the other hand, Al-Sabah daily has quoted an official source from MoH as saying that there has been a remarkable increase in measles cases at Jahra Hospital since September last year. He revealed there were about 60 to 70 cases at the time, stating this is a large number for one health area.He was, however, quick to add that the hospital did not report any similar cases from January to February this year.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Education (MoE) has started taking steps to eliminate absenteeism in schools, especially before and after the holidays, reports Al-Watan Arabic daily quoting sources.
Sources said several schools have been sending text messages over the last days, urging students to strictly adhere to the official school hours, otherwise the ministry will take the necessary action against those who violate the directive.Sources added the ministry has taken advantage of the mobile phone technology to easily disseminate information and instructions to the students.

In another development, MP Askar Al-Enezi has asked Minister of Education and Higher Education Dr Mudhi Al-Humoud to restore the accreditation of the Lebanon University in Beirut as a large number of Kuwaiti students are currently registered at the institution, reports Al-Anba daily.

Stating the Ministry of Higher Education had earlier granted accreditation to the university, Al-Enezi said the accreditation for some specializations, including political science, was cancelled on Nov 3, 2009 in spite of the large number of Kuwaiti students who completed half of their degree and were on the verge of obtaining their certificates. He accused the ministry of failure to conduct a comprehensive study on the issue before deciding to cancel the accreditation.

Al-Enezi went on to say the hardworking students have encountered financial and moral problems due to this decision. He pointed out the students asked permission from the ministry before enrolling in the university, so it is unfair for them to suffer the consequences of the decision.

In yet another development, Undersecretary at the Ministry of Education Tomadher Al-Sedrawi has been appointed head of a committee responsible for making all preparations for the next academic year 2010-2011, reports Al-Anba daily.

Reliable sources say the ministry will float 14 tenders for carrying out maintenance, for constructing a public Diwan for the ministry, constructing new buildings and demolishing five old school buildings.
The ministry has also agreed to exempt the experience clause while appointing non-Kuwaiti specialists, provided they pass the interview, add sources. 

Also:
KUWAIT CITY: The Ministry of Education has invited tenders for providing 71,000 laptops to high schools, says Assistant Undersecretary for Planning and Information Sector at the ministry Dr Khaled Al-Reshaid, adding "the ministry will provide a laptop to each secondary school student by the beginning of next academic year," reports Al-Watan Arabic daily.

The KD 25 million tender will be awarded to the company which provides the most advanced laptops, added Al-Reshaid. The ministry is also inviting tenders for the electronic curriculum project, which is estimated to cost nearly KD 2 to 3 million. "The purpose is to develop the educational system and keep students up to date in terms of technology," he noted.

In a separate development, the Education Ministry awarded 14 maintenance contracts - two for each educational zone, in addition to tenders for constructing Ministry's Public Diwan and Qualitative Education building.

The last two contracts are worth KD 5 million each, Al-Dar daily quoted Assistant Undersecretary for Educational Constructions Mohammed Al-Sayegh as saying.

Also, a KD 12 million tender was awarded for constructing five new school buildings. Al-Sayegh said four buildings, including Ali Bin Abi Taleb School in Shaab and Sulaibhikhat Elementary School, will be demolished and reconstructed again. 

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