KUWAITI YOUTH SURVEYS ON EDUCATION, DEMOCRACY AND POLITICS

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KUWAIT 000638 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR NEA/ARPI, NEA/PA, NEA/AIA, NEA/PI, INR/NESA, R/MR, I/GNEA, B/BXN, B/BRN, NEA/PPD, NEA/IPA FOR ALTERMAN USAID/ANE/MEA LONDON FOR TSOU PARIS FOR ZEYA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OPRC KMDR KPAO PREL KDEM PGOV KU SUBJECT: KUWAITI YOUTH SURVEYS ON EDUCATION, DEMOCRACY AND POLITICS CONDUCTED BY AL-QABAS DAILY ARABIC NEWSPAPER ¶1. Summary: Al-Qabas, the most prominent Arabic-language daily newspaper in Kuwait, regularly prints polling results reflecting youth opinions on a variety of topics, including early marriage, the Iranian nuclear program, the Danish cartoons, and political awareness. Recent polling exhibited strong responses in support of democracy, educational reform, the new government in Kuwait and the boycott of Danish goods. End Summary. ¶2. Academic competence at Kuwait University: -- Tuesday, 21 February 2006 The percentage of students earning each grade at Kuwait University's School of Social Sciences: A, A- 18.5% B+, B, B- 31% C+, C, C- 24.5% D+, D 21% FA, F 5% The percentage of students earning each grade at Kuwait University's School of Humanities: A, A- 19% B+, B, B- 29% C+, C, C- 28% D+, D 17.5% FA, F 6% The percentage of students earning each grade at Kuwait University's School of Engineering and Petroleum: A, A- 8.5% B+, B, B- 16% C+, C, C- 23.5% D+, D 24.5% FA, F 27.5% The percentage of students earning each grade at Kuwait University's School of Science: A, A- 13% B+, B, B- 21% C+, C, C- 30% D+, D 16% FA, F 20% -- Sunday, 8 January 2006 Does the professor use technology during lectures? 66% No, 30% Sometimes, 4% Yes What is your evaluation of the professors' lecturing abilities? 24% Good, 76% Weak Do you use other means of learning aside from the professors? 85% yes, 10% No, and 5% Sometimes ¶3. Democracy, Government, and Civil Society -- Tuesday, 21 February 2006 Do you think Kuwait is a democratic country? 90% Yes, 9% Somewhat, 1% No Do you believe in democracy? 78% yes, 17% somewhat, 5% no Do you follow politics? 32% yes, 61% somewhat, 7% no -- Monday, 20 February 2006 Are you satisfied with the new government? 96% yes, 3% somewhat, 1% no Do you think the new government will meet your aspirations? 94% yes, 5% somewhat, 1% no Do you expect the new government to carry out reform? 94% yes, 4% somewhat, 2% no -- Monday, 6 February 2006 Who is responsible for informing the youth about politics? KUWAIT 00000638 002 OF 002 43% Ministry of Information, 34% Ministry of Education, 12% Other youth, 7% Don't know, 4% Parents Freedoms afforded by the Kuwaiti constitution: 60% Limited, 35% Widespread, 3% Narrow, 2% Don't know Do you know the date of Kuwait's independence? 73% Yes, 23% No, 4% Somewhat Do you understand the constitution's terminology? 59% Yes, 36% Somewhat, 5% No -- Monday, 30 January 2006 Do you think that the current number of declared syndicates is sufficient? 65% Not sufficient, 15% Sufficient, 20% Don't know Is declaration in the interest of the members? 75% Yes, 12% No, 13% Don't know Is declaration in the interest of political parties only? 35% Don't know, 35% No, 30% Yes Will declaration increase syndicates' activities? 68% Yes, 20% Don't know, 12% No ¶4. Iran's Nuclear Program -- Sunday, 19 February 2006 Do you fear an accident at the Iranian nuclear reactor that would endanger the people of the region? 60% yes, 30% somewhat, and 10% no Are you afraid of the geographical proximity of the Iranian nuclear reactor to Kuwait? 56% yes, 30% somewhat, 14% no ¶5. Early Marriage -- Monday, 13 February 2006 Is early marriage a good thing or a bad thing? 65% Bad, 35% Good Does early marriage end in divorce in most cases? 50% Yes, 50% No Do you support early marriage? 75% No, 25% Yes ¶6. Blasphemous Danish Cartoons -- Tuesday, 7 February 2006 Do you support the boycott? 90% Yes, 10% No Have you seen the cartoons? 65% Yes, 35% No On what basis are you boycotting Danish products? 80% Media, 20% Clerics' Fatwas ********************************************* * For more reporting from Embassy Kuwait, visit: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/?cable s Visit Kuwait's Classified Website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/ ********************************************* * LEBARON