Iranian school in Kuwait: families adapt alternatives and prepare for new challenges after closure – BBC News Arabic
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Weeks before the start of the new academic year in Kuwait, which is scheduled to begin in mid-September, Iranian families there have had to find alternative schools for their children after Kuwaiti authorities decided on August 6 to revoke the license of the country’s only private Iranian school and close it.
The process of finding an alternative school was not an easy task for some families, given the limited options that could alter the educational experience that, for many, was an appropriate choice academically, linguistically, and socially.
A sudden decision that confused Iranian families
The decision to close the Iranian school comes in a highly sensitive regional security and political context. During the Iran-US war, Kuwait came under Iranian attacks because Tehran said it targeted American interests and bases in the region, while Kuwait hosts American forces and military facilities.
Consequently, due to the sensitivity of the issue, the majority of families refrained from speaking to us, despite our assurances that we would not publish their identities or publish any details that could lead to their identification. Only one family agreed to be interviewed on the condition that they not be photographed or photographed.
The family said their three children attended the Iranian school for about five years and described the decision to close as sudden and difficult, especially after a long period of stability and integration into the educational environment.
The mother told the BBC: “Finding an alternative school for my children in a short time was very difficult. The Iranian school was not only an educational institution for them, but a part of their daily life. In a very limited time, we had to find a school that met their needs in addition to academic level, language, educational environment and tuition fees.
He added: “The annual tuition fee at the Iranian school was in line with our financial situation, but moving my children to another private school has made us see a huge difference in costs as the new fees are much higher, putting an additional financial burden on us, especially as we are educating three students.”
The mother explains that the Iranian school suited the family’s needs as an Iranian family, noting that the educational environment there matched many of the values and traditions the family was accustomed to, whether in terms of academic and personal care for students, the nature of the school’s activities, the level of discipline, or the relationship between students and teachers.
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The family fears that the sudden move will have a negative impact on the children’s academic achievements and psychological stability, in addition to facing aspects of bullying or social rejection due to their Iranian origins. He is also concerned about the challenge of adapting to the new educational program, after children were used to learning in a system in which the Persian language was the cornerstone, and today it will be replaced by an educational environment that relies on the Arabic language.
The mother says: “Of course, my children will face a big change, not only because they will be away from their teachers and friends, but also because the teaching method, terminology and educational system will be completely different from what they are used to.” He adds, “Imagine a child who has spent years with classmates and teachers, and then suddenly finds himself in a completely new environment. It’s normal for him to feel anxious and uncomfortable.”
The mother ends her speech with the following words: “While parents are busy with tuition and transportation costs, my children are busy with other things, thinking about how they will be separated from their friends and the names of the teachers they will meet at the new school.”
Cancellation of license without specifying the reason
Kuwait’s Minister of Education, Jalal Al-Tabtabai, issued a decision to revoke the educational license granted to the school and suspend the decision to renew and close the license. The General Administration of Private Education was also ordered to implement this decision, including suspending the admission of new students from the 2026-2027 academic year and the need to transfer children to other schools before the parents of registered students begin their studies.
The Ministry of Education confirmed at the time that the General Administration of Private Education will coordinate with relevant authorities to ensure that students are transferred to other schools to maintain the continuity of their studies and limit any interruptions in their academic careers.
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In the decision at the time, the Ministry of Education did not specify a direct reason for revoking the license, simply citing laws and regulations governing private education, reports from the General Administration of Private Education and what the public interest required.
The only Iranian school in Kuwait
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An Iranian school in Kuwait dates back to 1984, and a complex of Iranian schools in Al-Raqi area was officially opened in 2008, after Kuwait allocated a plot of land to the Iranian community to establish an educational complex that would include its schools.
The institution provides education according to the Iranian curriculum and in Persian language at different levels and it has decorated about 1500 students during the academic year 2024-2025.
The BBC spoke to one of the teachers at the school, who preferred not to be identified and the subject he teaches. He explained that the school was not only an educational institution, but over the years it had been an area of stability and confidence for a large number of families associated with it.
Regarding the effects of the closure on educational staff, he said: “The school has been our livelihood for many years and we therefore hope that solutions will be presented that respect our rights and help us at this stage, especially helping us as experienced and competent people to find suitable jobs.
He added that the implications of the decision are not limited to students and their families, but also extend to teachers and staff who now face uncertainty about their professional futures following the closure of the school.
Kuwait’s actions in the wider regional context
Measures against Iranian institutions in the Gulf states were not limited to Kuwait.
In the United Arab Emirates, at the outbreak of the war, similar measures were taken, affecting institutions linked to Iran, including Iranian schools, an Iranian hospital and an Iranian club in Dubai. The head of Iran’s Ministry of Education’s Center for Foreign Schools noted at the time that the measures affected about 2,500 students, both male and female, in the Emirates.