Technical and Professional Education

The technical and professional education in the State of Kuwait has come across several stages of quick development in terms of trends, levels and approaches. This quick development actually reflects the development of the Kuwaiti Society itself and the increasing needs for the technical powers that can meet the its development demands. 

Early Beginnings:

The early beginnings of the regular education in Kuwait indicate a clear relationship between education and the community’s needs. When the Kuwaitis felt the need for more regulated education, capable of meeting the Society’s needs, they called for establishing a regular school which was Al-Mubarkiya School, established in 1912. The school’s curricula centered on the society’s needs and prorates; therefore focus was placed on mathematics and bookkeeping.

The inception of the technical and vocational education in Kuwait in the early fifties came in response to the need of countries and governmental institutions, in addition to the work market, for certain categories of tradesmen and assistant technicians in the various production and service fields.

The responsibilities for this sort of education and training were shared between the Ministry of Education, (then the Education Department), which established the Industrial College in 54/1955, The Commercial Secondary School for Boys in 63/1964, Faculty of Teachers in 62/1963, and the Technical Secondary School for Girls in 62/1968, on the one parts and the Ministry of Public Works, Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor, as well as Post Telegram and Telephone, each of which has established an institute or a training center, almost confined to preparing students to cater the needs of the Ministry establishing it.

Accordingly, the levels and types of the study and training programs varied according to the targeted needs and objectives of the respective institutes.

This domain of education and training went through several stages of development and reformation, which were mainly partial and temporal due to diversity and multitude of undertakers.

The Present Need for Technical Education

Elements of the Technical School System Plan and the Private Sector’s Role:

In the light of the facts prevailing in the Kuwaiti Society and economy as well as the on-going changes experienced by both, a technical education system must be designed as to integrate with the current general education. Such arrangement will equip the student with certain technical skills that enable him start on certain professional trades and at the same time provides him with the necessary qualification for resuming his technical education at relevant institutes and universities for specialized degrees.

The State of Kuwait must adopt a technical education system recognized by Arab countries, such as the Arab Republic of Egypt and The Republic of Lebanon, based on systems adopted by advanced countries such as Germany and UK.

In conducting feasibility studies for this sort of projects, observance must be given to the investment aspects and the alternative opportunities benefit. This sort of projects should provide social and national benefit through providing skilled manpower and job opportunities, as well as financial benefit for the private sector investor.

Objectives of the Technical Education:

This sort of education must be linked to the state education of the Ministry of Education, as to ensure due compliance with the general objectives of the Ministry of Education and the specific objectives of the various learning levels.

The technical school will prove successful once it attains the same results of the general secondary school. Here it is recommended to have the technical branch, along the literature and scientific branches.

Objectives to be adopted by the technical education:

1-      Command of industrial activities, which require special skill, acquisition of which is not available in the normal technical and industrial workplace, together with ability to analyze these activities and develop the best operational steps for execution technically and economically.

2-       Prepare grounds for vocational interconnection opportunities in inter-related industrial occupations and identity the relations among one another, to enable students exercise the same in the field of industry.

3-      Provide students with the capability of performing industrial activities according to proper technical principles for accurate execution, and exercising good habits of conduct related to industrial occupations and morals.

4-      Training students to recognize the correct technical terms and foreign vocabulary.

5-     Mastering use of tools, machines, equipment and computer hardware in accordance with the proper technical methods and safety and security rules.

6-    Provide students with general, technical and professional cultural information that helps them to:

·        Select laws required for production in terms of specification and properties suitable for operation.

·        Prepare detailed operational measurements and economic costing for products.

·         Study installation operation and maintenance of machines and equipment.

·         Be able to read and make simple drawings and shop drawings, understand operation codes and terms and master the use of manual and computer aided drafting tools.

7- Prepare graduates to integrate into the labor class ambiance, direct them to using their capabilities, skills and culture in managing technical and industrial businesses, imparting to them the tributes that qualify them as future supervisors over workers at factories and technical workshops.

8-       Activate the private sector’s role and encourage investments in development projects that bring in benefit to the entire community and create job opportunities for the Kuwaitis.

 

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