International Education in Kuwait City
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Kuwait may be smaller than its Persian Gulf neighbours, but this little oasis has just as much to offer. Having come through rapid development and plenty of political turmoil in the 1980s and 1990s, Kuwait is now a stable country with an oil-rich economy and a booming expat population. While there is a strong Western influence in the country, it’s still possible and easy to find authentic Arabic experiences and ways of living here.
Around 70% of Kuwait’s total population is made up of expats, so naturally there are plenty of international schools to cater for young families. In fact international schooling is the only option for expats in Kuwait, as public schools are reserved for native Kuwaiti children only.
International schools in Kuwait generally fall into two categories: those catering for European or North American expats, and those catering for expats from other Arabic countries. A selection of schools are also geared towards Indian and Pakistani expats. Arabic lessons are mandatory in all schools. All international schools focus on high performance, especially when it comes to grades and exam results.
Because of the focus on results, international schools in Kuwait go to great lengths to attract a high calibre of teachers. Native English-speaking teachers are common everywhere, and plenty of them end up staying in the same school for several years. However, provision for students with special needs is often lacking. In these cases, finding a school that can cater to your child’s learning needs can be a challenge.
Kuwait’s international schools are usually large in size. Some schools have over 2000 students on campus; a school with 500 students or less is considered small here. In most schools the average class size is 25 students or less.
Despite the wide choice of international schools in Kuwait, waiting lists are still common and application processes are long. As well as application forms, previous school reports, visas and passports, you’ll also need to provide vaccination details to your school of choice and your child will need to undergo a medical check. Some schools also require proficiency in English and maths up to a certain level.
The school week in Kuwait runs from Sunday until Thursday, starting at around 7.00am and finishing at around 2.00pm (or 3.00pm for older students). Due to the intense summer heat in the city, schools get a longer summer break of around 10 weeks and shorter breaks at other times of the year. As for getting around, school bus services are a common feature of the vast majority of international schools.
Below, we have compiled the top 10 international schools in Kuwait City according to our users. However, there are another 36 schools to choose from in the city. You can find the best international school for your child by personalising your results. Just fill in your search criteria, and we will calculate a personal score for every international school in Kuwait City based on your requirements.
