Kuwait eyes $1.1bn spend on education sector

Kuwait is planning to spend KD321m ($1.14bn) on improving educational facilities in the Gulf state over the next five years. Mohammad Al-Sayegh, Ministry of Education's assistant undersecretary for educational buildings, has announced that KD249m has been allocated to demolishing and rebuilding old and dilapidated schools and building new facilities. In comments published by Kuwait News Agency, he said the new developmental plan included the construction of 50 schools by 2014 with 10 already built. The Ministry's plan also includes the creation of six centres across the country to train teachers and administrators.In July, it was reported that Kuwait's United Education Company had acquired a 82 percent stake in Al Rayan Holding from a consortium of sellers led by Global Capital Management. Al Rayan Holding was established in 2006 with the aim of consolidating K-12 schools in Kuwait into a single platform. The company currently operates six schools with over 10,500 students, including one of the leading Indian and Pakistani schools in the country. The acquisition by United Education Company, a Kuwait higher education company, is part of its expansion strategy to create one of the leading education groups in the GCC.