Exit Permit Crisis For 30,000 Expat Teachers In Kuwait Resolved
KUWAIT CITY, June 21: In a significant administrative breakthrough, the Ministry of Education, in coordination with the Civil Service Bureau, has successfully resolved a mounting crisis that had hindered the issuance of exit permits for approximately 30,000 expat teachers across Kuwait's educational regions. The bottleneck arose following the recent digital upgrade of internal procedures and the implementation of the Civil Service Bureau's Integrated Systems Program.
According to informed sources, the procedural overhaul initially caused widespread confusion among expatriate teaching staff, many of whom found themselves unable to obtain the required online exit permits due to data synchronization issues in the new system. This led to an influx of complaints and overcrowding in the administrative offices of various educational districts over the past week.
Prompt intervention came from Minister of Education Dr. Adel Al-Tabtabaei, who personally contacted senior officials at the Civil Service Bureau to expedite a resolution. His efforts paved the way for collaboration between the Ministry's Information Systems Department and the Civil Service Bureau, leading to the rapid updating and verification of all non-Kuwaiti teachers' records within the integrated system. As a result, hundreds of teachers have successfully received their exit permits over the past two days without administrative hurdles, all through fully electronic processing.
New Streamlined Procedure for Exit Permits
Officials have detailed the new step-by-step mechanism to secure an exit permit electronically via the 'Sahel' app. The process is as follows:
Form Submission: Teachers must complete Form No. (1) at their respective schools or workplaces and have it officially approved before submitting it to the Leave and Attendance Department of their regional education district.
App Access: The teacher then logs into the government's 'Sahel' mobile application.
Service Navigation: Within the app, the user navigates to 'Services,' selects 'Civil Service Bureau - Certificates,' and then chooses 'Exit Permit Certificate (Exit) – Article 17.'
New Request: When prompted, the teacher selects 'New Request' and submits it.
Data Verification: The app displays the user's personal information, such as residency status, passport details, and type of leave requested (private, public holiday, weekend, or end-of-semester). The user verifies and confirms this data.
Certificate Type: The applicant selects whether the certificate is required 'after work' or 'during work hours,' then confirms the intended exit date.
Final Submission: The application is then submitted, with the system providing a confirmation message and a subsequent notification upon approval.nn
Authorities clarified that the exit permit certificate is valid for three months from the date of issuance. School administrations have been advised to compile lists of non-Kuwaiti teaching staff, obtain signatures on exit permit forms, and submit the documents to their respective educational districts. Teachers are urged to follow the new electronic procedure through the 'Sahel' app to ensure timely and hassle-free approval.
Future Enhancements Under Study
In a bid to further streamline the process and alleviate pressure on administrative offices, the Ministry of Education and the Civil Service Bureau are exploring the option of allowing school principals to approve exit permits directly via the "Sahel" app, eliminating the need for physical submission to district offices. This proposal is part of a broader initiative aimed at enhancing the efficiency and responsiveness of electronic services provided to educational staff.
The sources emphasized that the Ministry of Education remains committed to removing bureaucratic obstacles and offering full administrative support to all educators, particularly expat staff who form an essential part of Kuwait's educational system. Continued coordination with the Civil Service Bureau is expected to yield further technological upgrades that improve service delivery without compromising administrative integrity.
This resolution reflects a growing commitment within Kuwait's public sector to embrace digital transformation and reinforce institutional support for the country's large expatriate workforce.
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