
Education ministry restarts summer school clubs after COVID suspension
Program offered free of charge • Only public school students eligible for enrollment
KUWAIT: The Ministry of Education, through its Department of Educational Development and Activities, announced on Monday the relaunch of summer school clubs, set to run from July 1 to August 31. The program, which has been on hold since 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, is restarting for the first time in five years.
In a press statement, the ministry said the move comes 'in line with directives from Minister of Education Jalal Al-Tabtabaei, who is keen to provide educational, recreational, and enrichment opportunities that allow students to make the most of their summer break.' The initiative also aims to 'foster community participation, enhance students' skills, and support their development in a safe and stimulating environment.'
The program is part of what the ministry described as a 'broader strategic vision' to make meaningful use of students' free time. The goal is to 'help refine their talents and develop their abilities within a supportive educational setting that promotes positive values and the concept of time well spent.'
A total of 25 free summer clubs will operate across Kuwait's educational districts. The clubs will offer a wide range of activities, including sports such as football, handball, basketball, swimming, and bowling; cultural activities like debate clubs; and scientific and technical programs, including robotics. The program will also feature 'purposeful recreational activities that strike a balance between learning and fun.'
Registration opens Monday and will be available electronically via the student's account on the Microsoft Teams platform through the ministry's website. Activities are scheduled for the evening hours, from 4 pm to 8 pm, allowing 'flexibility and accommodating diverse family schedules.'
The ministry also announced the allocation of two specialized clubs for students with disabilities, saying the decision ensures 'an inclusive educational environment that caters to their needs and supports their development in an atmosphere of respect and empowerment.'
The program targets male and female students in general education across elementary, intermediate, and secondary levels who are enrolled in Ministry of Education schools. According to the ministry, all activities 'will be supervised by specialized trainers across various fields,' with content 'tailored to meet a wide range of interests and needs.' It stressed that 'all activities are offered free of charge, reflecting the ministry's commitment to providing fair and equal educational opportunities for all.' The ministry concluded by saying that the summer clubs are 'an extension of the ministry's year-round educational role,' and that they aim to 'reinforce a culture of continuous learning and national belonging through activities that connect students with community values and institutions in a flexible educational environment that inspires creativity and unlocks their potential.' — KUNA
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles

Kuwait Times
5 days ago
- Kuwait Times
Education ministry restarts summer school clubs after COVID suspension
Program offered free of charge • Only public school students eligible for enrollment KUWAIT: The Ministry of Education, through its Department of Educational Development and Activities, announced on Monday the relaunch of summer school clubs, set to run from July 1 to August 31. The program, which has been on hold since 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, is restarting for the first time in five years. In a press statement, the ministry said the move comes 'in line with directives from Minister of Education Jalal Al-Tabtabaei, who is keen to provide educational, recreational, and enrichment opportunities that allow students to make the most of their summer break.' The initiative also aims to 'foster community participation, enhance students' skills, and support their development in a safe and stimulating environment.' The program is part of what the ministry described as a 'broader strategic vision' to make meaningful use of students' free time. The goal is to 'help refine their talents and develop their abilities within a supportive educational setting that promotes positive values and the concept of time well spent.' A total of 25 free summer clubs will operate across Kuwait's educational districts. The clubs will offer a wide range of activities, including sports such as football, handball, basketball, swimming, and bowling; cultural activities like debate clubs; and scientific and technical programs, including robotics. The program will also feature 'purposeful recreational activities that strike a balance between learning and fun.' Registration opens Monday and will be available electronically via the student's account on the Microsoft Teams platform through the ministry's website. Activities are scheduled for the evening hours, from 4 pm to 8 pm, allowing 'flexibility and accommodating diverse family schedules.' The ministry also announced the allocation of two specialized clubs for students with disabilities, saying the decision ensures 'an inclusive educational environment that caters to their needs and supports their development in an atmosphere of respect and empowerment.' The program targets male and female students in general education across elementary, intermediate, and secondary levels who are enrolled in Ministry of Education schools. According to the ministry, all activities 'will be supervised by specialized trainers across various fields,' with content 'tailored to meet a wide range of interests and needs.' It stressed that 'all activities are offered free of charge, reflecting the ministry's commitment to providing fair and equal educational opportunities for all.' The ministry concluded by saying that the summer clubs are 'an extension of the ministry's year-round educational role,' and that they aim to 'reinforce a culture of continuous learning and national belonging through activities that connect students with community values and institutions in a flexible educational environment that inspires creativity and unlocks their potential.' — KUNA

Kuwait Times
04-06-2025
- Kuwait Times
S Korea voters weigh political divide in partisan heartlands
Major polls suggest victory for Lee Jae-myung DAEGU: The top contenders in South Korea's presidential vote Tuesday have framed their campaigns as an existential fight for the country's soul, and whoever wins will have to unite a sharply-polarized society. The election was triggered by ex-leader Yoon Suk Yeol's disastrous declaration of martial law last year. All major polls suggest victory for Lee Jae-myung of the liberal Democratic Party, with Kim Moon-soo of the right-wing People Power Party (PPP) trailing far behind. From the city of Daegu, for decades synonymous with conservatism, to Gwangju, the spiritual heartland of the left, AFP spoke to voters about where they stand and how the country's divide can be healed. Switching sides Lee Woo-hyun, an entertainment professional from Daegu and long-time conservative voter, told AFP the martial law fiasco 'really shook' him. 'When I talk to my parents and other senior citizens, I can see they are turning away from the red,' the 45-year-old said, referring to the symbolic color of the PPP. 'Some might wonder how one incident could completely change my stance,' Lee said. 'But for me, it did. A lot of people in their mid-40s feel the same way. They don't think what happened was right.' Generational divide Ko Seung-ju, an electrical engineering major, sees growing cracks in Daegu's traditional conservative support base. 'Younger voters are no longer likely to blindly support the conservatives,' Ko said. The Yoon administration's decision to cut the national research and development budget has hit science and engineering students hard, he said. 'I really hope that gets reinstated.' 'Balance is important' Kim Sung-gyun, 60, a former automotive industry worker, said he is undecided. He disagreed with Yoon's attempt to impose martial law, which he described as creating 'extreme chaos'. 'People's lives are already difficult enough.' But he expressed reservations about one side gaining unchecked power—pointing to the opposition's near two-thirds majority in parliament. 'Balance is important,' he said. He said he plans to vote for whoever he believes 'puts the people first', regardless of traditional regional loyalties. The unshaken Shopowner Kim remains unfazed by the martial law bid. 'Declaring martial law was wrong, but nothing actually happened afterwards so they should just move on,' said Kim, who declined to share his full name over privacy concerns. For the 69-year-old, the local economy is the primary concern. He said it was 'wiped out' by the Covid-19 pandemic and has never recovered. 'It's impossible to keep a business afloat—there's rent to pay, wages to cover and constant stress piling on.' A vote for democracy Lee Gwi-nye, 79, a lifelong resident of Gwangju, voiced firm support for the Democratic Party and its candidate Lee. 'Democracy lets us live freely and comfortably,' she said. 'But parties like the PPP, honestly, don't feel democratic at all.' To her, democracy means 'being able to live and act freely, with peace of mind'. 'History matters' Jung Se-yoon, 65, a retired teacher, said she doesn't believe in voting solely along party lines. But she vividly recalled a bloody 1980 crackdown in Gwangju by South Korea's former military regime which left hundreds dead or missing. 'Those experiences still resonate. That's why I believe history matters,' she said. The upcoming election must serve as a 'turning point'. 'It will take far too long for the country to get back on its feet if we miss this chance—and by then, we might fall too far behind,' Jung said. Beyond party lines Haylee Lee, an English teacher, urged fellow Gwangju residents to 'make a decision based on their own convictions' rather than fall into habitual partisan voting. What matters most to her is how much effort presidential hopefuls make to listen to the concerns of ordinary people. 'Many politicians come from privileged backgrounds,' she said. 'I wonder how well they actually listen to the voices of the middle class.' Pressure as a centrist Park Yeon-ok, 64, who works at a social enterprise in Gwangju, told AFP she often faces pressure when she identifies as a centrist. 'Many people immediately ask: 'So you're not supporting the Democratic Party? Then are you backing the People Power Party?' That kind of reaction is pretty common,' she said. In this election, Park sees PPP candidate Kim as someone capable of bringing about unity. 'The divisions run deep,' she said. 'I hope the next leader can help bridge those gaps.' — AFP


Arab Times
21-04-2025
- Arab Times
Drones pose increasing risk to airliners near major US airports
WASHINGTON, April 21, (AP): A commercial airliner was on final approach to San Francisco's international airport in November when the crew spotted a drone outside the cockpit window. By then it was too late "to take evasive action,' the pilots reported, and the quadcopter passed by their windshield, not 300 feet away. A month earlier, a jetliner was flying at an altitude of 4,000 feet near Miami's international airport when its pilots reported a "close encounter' with a drone. In August, a drone came within 50 feet of clipping the left wing of a passenger jet as it departed Newark International Airport. The incidents were all classified as "near midair collisions' - any one of which could have had catastrophic consequences, according to aviation safety experts. They were also not isolated encounters. An Associated Press analysis of an aviation safety database reveals that drones last year accounted for nearly two-thirds of reported near midair collisions involving commercial passenger planes taking off and landing at the country's top 30 busiest airports. That was the highest percentage of such near misses since 2020, when air traffic dropped during the COVID-19 pandemic. The first reports of near misses involving drones were logged in 2014, the AP found. The number of such encounters spiked the following year. Over the last decade, drones accounted for 51% - 122 of 240 - of reported near misses, according to AP's analysis. Passenger jets have long been subject to risks around airports - whether from bird strikes or congested airspace - as was made clear by the January collision between a military helicopter and commercial jet near Washington, D.C., that killed 67 people. The threat from drones has become more acute in the last decade as the use of quadcopters and remote-controlled planes has exploded in popularity. The FAA estimates that Americans are operating more than a million drones for recreational and commercial purposes. "If you have the money, you can go on the internet and buy a pretty sophisticated drone that can reach altitudes they really have no business being at,' said William Waldock, a professor of safety science at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.