Kuwait partners with OECD in broad education reform bid

KUWAIT, Oct 20 (KUNA) -- Kuwait's launch of a joint cooperation agreement with the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) marks a turning point towards greater development and broader reforms, Education Minister Jalal Al-Tabtabaei said on Monday.
These ambitious endeavors enjoy the firm backing of Kuwait's political leaders, all of whom view education as the crux of national development plans, the minister told a ceremony to launch a cooperation agreement with the OECD, attended by a bevy of senior officials and experts.
On the initiative, he said that it aims to give impetus to a raft of education reforms his ministry has introduced, which entails partnering with international bodies and global organizations in a bid to keep educational growth on an upward trajectory, the minister underlined.
Discussing the intricacies of the new project, he said that the OECD would contribute towards national education reforms through contributing towards an overhaul of public school curriculums, in addition to reassessing teacher certification tests to ensure more efficiency in the learning process, added the minister.
Citing the initiative as a testament to Kuwait's commitment towards education reforms, OECD Innovation and Progress Measurement department chief Edmund Mason said that the agreement represents a "long-term" vision for education development in Kuwait. (end) mar.nam