Kuwait stops renewing residency permits of stranded expat teachers

KUWAIT CITY: The Ministry of Education has stopped renewing the residency permits of expatriate teachers stranded abroad, in coordination with its interior counterpart, reports Al-Qabas daily quoting informed sources.

Sources explained the Education Ministry took this step due to the spread of links for payment of the fees for renewing the residency permit on some social media platforms; thereby, arousing fear of hacking these links.

Sources affirmed the high level coordination between officials of the ministries of Education and Interior to find an alternative mechanism that allows these teachers to enter the country.

It is expected that these teachers will be granted government visit visas to enter the country, instead of renewing their residency permits while they are outside the country. Sources said the Ministry of Education is preparing the list of teachers stranded abroad and send the list to the concerned authorities before September in order to find a mechanism for their entry and avoid the shortage of teaching staff for new academic year 2020-2021.

In addition, the acting Ministry of Education undersecretary has asked the Civil Service Commission (CSC) about the procedures for non-Kuwaiti administrative workers and teachers who left the country and are unable to return due to the current exceptional circumstances; particularly the Cabinet’s decision to suspend fl ights to and from 32 countries.