Kuwait City: The Kuwaiti Cabinet has extended the suspension of all public and private schools as well as higher education institutions until August 4, in light of the Novel Coronavirus outbreak, Gulf News reported.
Schools, universities, colleges and Islamic Awqaf centres will reopen for five to six weeks to make up for the remaining period of the second semester while the new school year will begin on December 1, 2020.
The decision was approved by the Kuwaiti government following a meeting held to discuss the latest developments on the global pandemic.
The postponement of the second semester until August 4 has logical justifications, Education Minister Saud Al Harbi said.
Earlier last month, Kuwait announced the suspension of schools and universities until March 25.
Private school operators asked the ministry to conclude the current school year as soon as possible, expressing apprehensions that parents would be reluctant to allow their children to return, should classes be resumed amid the coronavirus scare.
In a letter sent to the cabinet through the education minister, Kuwait Union of Private Schools chairman Omar Al Ghurair also called for compensation for the owners of private schools for any financial loss if parents did not pay the remaining fees.
Private school operators also urged the government to accredit first semester results as the final results for the 2019-2020 academic year, and ease the pressure on keeping the safety of teaching and administrative staff who still had to report for work.
According to a survey conducted by the union, a majority of parents were in favour of concluding the school year and considering the first semester results as final results, the union explained.