Kuwait Ministry of Education has taken a major step to reduce its workforce in government schools. Between September 8 and 9, 2026, officials issued termination notices to 7,019 expatriate teachers. This plan aims to fix a surplus of about 33,268 teachers and save KD 42 million every year.
- Notices sent via official Sahel App
- Affects 1,551 men and 5,468 women
- Focuses on non-national teachers
The termination notices are titled Contract Termination Notice and arrive through the official Kuwaiti government portal, the Sahel App. The affected group includes 1,551 men, which is 22 percent, and 5,468 women, which is 78 percent. These job cuts mainly target subjects like physical education, Islamic studies, Arabic, English, art, music, and mathematics. The government chose who to let go based on seniority, focusing on those hired earliest. At this time, the teaching force is made up of 70.6 percent Kuwaiti nationals, 10.1 percent Khaleeji and Bidoon, and 19.3 percent from other Arab and international backgrounds. The current cuts apply only to this 19.3 percent non-national group. These teachers come from countries such as Egypt, India, Pakistan, Sudan, and Jordan.
Education Minister Adel Al-Tabtabaei told departments to put the plan into action right away. The goal is to prioritize the Kuwaitization of subjects where local candidates are ready, while hiring will still happen in areas with shortages. The ministry stated that workers legal rights will stay protected during this change. These job losses bring big problems for expat families because ending a job changes visa status, residency, and children schooling. India has a large community of about 10 lakh people in Kuwait who work as teachers, nurses, and engineers, so the effect on Indian families is very high. Experts advise affected people to check their contract status, payment slips, and legal documents on the Sahel app and ask the Indian Embassy in Kuwait for help if needed.
