Education and childcare in Kuwait
Kuwait's education system has grown to be extremely diverse, in line with the needs of both its citizens and its expat community. Across the 1,300 schools in the country, there are different schooling opportunities available to cater to all different needs, ensuring that education is accessible to everyone.
Schools in Kuwait
There are generally two types of schools in Kuwait: public schools and private schools.
Public schools
Public schools in Kuwait are governed by the Ministry of Education and provide education primarily to Kuwaiti nationals. The curriculum in public schools is based on Kuwait's educational standards and is taught with Arabic as the primary language. English is introduced as a second language at a later stage. Public education is completely free for Kuwaiti citizens, including the cost of textbooks and other educational materials.
Good to know:
Expats are generally not allowed to enroll in public schools, unless one of their parents works as a teacher, in the Ministry of Education, or in the Ministry of Health.
Private schools
Private schools in Kuwait are available to both Kuwaiti nationals and expats and are generally the preferred option, even amongst Kuwaiti citizens. These schools follow various international curricula such as British, American, Indian, French, and others, catering to the diverse expat community. Private schools often offer bilingual education and may incorporate Arabic language and Kuwaiti cultural studies into their curriculum.
Admission requirements for private schools may vary from one school to the other, but there are some general documentation you will need:
- Recent passport-size photographs;
- Copy of student's birth certificate;
- Copy of vaccination record;
- Copy of student's Civil ID;
- Copy of student's passport;
- Copy of father/parent's Civil ID;
- Copy of father/parent's passport;
- Transfer certificate from the previous school;
- Last school report from the previous school;
- Clearance letter from the previous school;
- Medical file from the previous school.
Generally, schooling is available from the age of 6, though some schools may accept younger students (around the age of 5).
School terms and holidays in Kuwait
There are generally 3 terms in Kuwait's schooling system. Term 1 usually starts at the beginning of September and runs until Christmas break, with a short mid-term break towards the end of October. Term 2 starts after New Year and runs until the Eid Al Fitr holiday (which will be early April next year), with a short spring break also happening at the beginning of April. Finally, term 3 starts after the Eid break in April and runs until summer (around mid-June).
Other school holidays include:
- Prophet's Birthday: Thursday 4th September 2025;
- Prophet's Ascension: Sunday 26th January 2025;
- National Day & Liberation Day: Thursday 25th - Sunday 28th February 2025;
- Eid Al Fitr Holiday: Monday 31st March - Wednesday 2nd April 2025;
- Eid Al Adha Holiday: Friday 6th - Monday 9th June 2025.
Education levels in Kuwait
As commonly found in most parts of the world, schools in Kuwait generally follow a three-tier education system:
- Primary education: Covers grades 1 to 6 (ages 6 to 12).
- Secondary education: Covers grades 1 to 12 or 13 (ages 13 to 18).
Top private schools in Kuwait
Despite being significantly more expensive, private schools are usually the preferred choice of schooling among both expats and Kuwaiti nationals. This is because they are considered to have stronger curriculums and better quality education. Some of the best private schools operating in Kuwait are:
The British School of Kuwait
The British School of Kuwait (BSK) was established in 1978 as a small kindergarten called The Sunshine School. In 1993, the school began accommodating both primary and secondary level students, and was renamed to what it is now known as.
BSK currently enrolls students from Reception to Year 13. They have students from over 70 different countries, and its curriculum follows the National Curriculum of England.
Annual school fees vary depending on the student's grade but range from 2,250 KWD to 5,000 KWD.
Kuwait National English School
Kuwait National English School (KNES) was founded in 1991 and accommodates students from pre-school up until Year 13. KNES is an accredited member of British Schools in the Middle East and has been recognized by the Department for Education of the UK as one of the British Schools Overseas.
The KNES school fees as of 2024 are as follows:
- Kindergarten - 1,494 KWD per year;
- Reception - 2,289 KWD per year;
- Year 1-2 - 2,446 KWD per year;
- Year 3-5 - 2,765 KWD per year;
- Year 6-11 - 2,926 KWD per year;
- Year 12 - 4,630 KWD per year;
- Year 13 - 4,862 KWD per year.
Al-Bayan Bilingual School
Al-Bayan Bilingual School (BBS) was established in 1977 and was the first bilingual school in the Arabian Gulf area. As the school's name suggests, the curriculum is taught in both English and Arabic, in equal parts. This allows students to foster their skills in both languages equally.
The subjects taught in Arabic follow the curriculum set by the Kuwait Ministry of Education, whereas the subjects taught in English follow the 207 Revised Ontario English Curriculum.
The BBS school fees as of 2024 are as follows:
- Pre-Kindergarten - 2,434 KWD per year;
- Kindergarten 1 - 2,434 KWD per year;
- Kindergarten 2 - 2,650 KWD per year;
- Year 1-5 - 4,086 KWD per year;
- Year 6-8 - 4,306 KWD per year;
- Year 9-12 - 4,505 KWD per year.
American International School
The American International School of Kuwait (AIS) first opened its doors in 1991 and enrolls students from pre-kindergarten all the way through to Year 12. AIS is an International Baccalaureate (IB) Continuum School that is fully authorized for the Primary Years (PYP), Middle Years (MYP), and Diploma (DP) Programs.
The school currently has 2,100 students enrolled, 60% of whom are Kuwaiti citizens, 25% coming from other Arabic-speaking countries, and 15% from North and South America, the United Kingdom, Northern and Central Europe, Turkey, India, Pakistan, South Korea, and elsewhere.
The AIS school fees as of 2024 are as follows:
- Kindergarten 1 - 2,650 KWD per year;
- Kindergarten 2 - 2,871 KWD per year;
- Year 1-4 - 3,867 KWD per year;
- Year 5-8 - 4,086 KWD per year;
- Year 9-12 - 4,531 KWD per year.
New English School
The New English School (NES) was founded in 1969 as the first secondary school offering a British Education in Kuwait. By 1970, the school had expanded to include a primary department. It currently enrolls students all the way from kindergarten to A-Levels (Year 13).
The NES school fees as of 2024 are as follows:
- Kindergarten - 1,733 KWD per year;
- Reception - Year 2 - 2,678 KWD per year;
- Year 3-6 - 2,977 KWD per year;
- Year 7-9 - 3,510 KWD per year;
- Year 10-11 - 3,510 KWD per year;
- Year 12-13 - 4,430 KWD per year.
With a range of private and international schools offering different curriculums and educational approaches, families can find suitable options to support their children's academic and personal development depending on their preferences.
Childcare in Kuwait
It's very easy to find childcare in Kuwait, especially for working parents. Daycare centers or nurseries are commonly found across the country. Most of these establishments accept children from early infancy, and many of them follow an international curriculum, such as Montessori, British, or American systems.
Daycares and nurseries often provide bilingual education, helping children develop proficiency in both Arabic and English. A lot of these establishments also offer flexible hours to accommodate working parents.
Some of the top nurseries and daycares in Kuwait include:
The English Education Providers Group (EPG)
The English Education Providers Group was established in 1975, and has grown to have 27 locations across Kuwait. EPG's Early Years program enrols children from as young as 9 months up to 5 years old. It follows a play-based curriculum, allowing children to explore and learn in a safe and secure environment.
El-Salam American Nursery & Preschool
El-Salam American Nursery & Preschool offers everything from language and literacy development, to social skills and creative expression. They enrol children from as young as 3 months old, all the way up to 6 years old. Each stage focuses on a different developmental phase in the child's life.
Buds & Blooms Early Education
Buds & Blooms Early Education focuses on the early years of childhood as the most critical in a child's development and follows the Arabian Child curriculum framework. They enroll children from 4 months old to 5 years old.
The annual tuition fees are as follows:
- Infant (4 months - 11 months): 1,400 KWD;
- Toddler & Preschool (1 year - 4 years): 1,550 KWD;
- KG 1 (4 years): 1,650 KWD;
- KG 2 (5 years): 1,690 KWD.
Useful links:
The British School of Kuwait (BSK)
Kuwait National English School (KNES)
Al-Bayan Bilingual School (BBS)
