Flexible Working Hours for School Staff Start Next Sunday

The Ministry of Education in Kuwait will roll out new flexible working hours for educational and administrative staff starting next Sunday. This follows three weeks after the beginning of the school year. According to sources, the Ministry, in consultation with the Civil Service Commission, has finalized new guidelines outlining both official and flexible working hours for staff in public, private, religious, and special education schools.

Key Guidelines for New Working Hours

The new regulations set clear rules for school staff, particularly teachers and administrators, regarding their work schedules. School principals, assistant principals, and department heads will be responsible for ensuring that these schedules are followed according to the established rules. 

At least one member of the school administration, such as a principal or assistant principal, must remain on campus during school hours until the end of the official working day. Supervisors will oversee compliance, and any absences could lead to an investigation, with results reported to the Ministry’s leadership.

Off-Duty Hours and Shift Management

Teaching and administrative staff will also be granted off-duty hours, as long as their total working time does not drop below five hours per day, in accordance with Law 21/2015, which covers children's rights. Supervisors are tasked with managing these off-duty hours to ensure that the school day runs smoothly without interruptions.

Use of Fingerprint System to Monitor Attendance

To ensure compliance with official work hours, staff will be required to confirm their presence using a fingerprint system within 60 minutes of their start time. Staff exempted from this rule must have prior permission. Failure to confirm presence on time will result in penalties, with absences being counted towards the staff member's monthly delay periods.