Kuwait’s Massive Teacher Shake-up: 7,000 Expat Educators Terminated
In a move that has sent shockwaves through the expatriate community, Kuwait’s Ministry of Education has announced the termination of 7,019 teachers. This sudden decision marks the first phase of an aggressive strategy to eliminate a massive surplus of over 33,000 teaching positions across the nation's government schools.
A Digital Blow: Notifications via the Sahel App
The news was delivered through unexpected digital channels. On 7 September 2026, affected staff received their 'Contract Termination Notices' directly via the government-managed Sahel app. The timing has left many educators in a state of distress; one Egyptian mathematics teacher reported receiving her notice just two days after returning to school to prepare for the new academic term.
The Breakdown: Who is Affected?
The current wave of layoffs shows a significant impact on female educators, consisting of 5,468 women and 1,551 men. While the cuts heavily targeted specialists in Islamic and physical education, the restructuring also reached into several other core disciplines. Affected subjects include:
- Arabic and English
- Mathematics and Science
- Art and Music
The educators losing their roles hail from several nations, including India, Egypt, Jordan, Syria, and Palestine.
Driving 'Kuwaitisation' and Massive Savings
This workforce reduction is a cornerstone of the ongoing 'Kuwaitisation' initiative. By phasing out expatriate roles, the government aims to prioritize the employment of Kuwaiti nationals, who already account for 70.6% of the teaching workforce. Moving forward, the ministry has clarified that expatriate recruitment will be strictly limited to specialized subject areas