OPPORTUNITIES FOR SCIENCE AND MATH COOPERATION IN KUWAIT

1. Summary: Kuwait is fertile ground for cooperation with the
Ministry of Education on science and mathematics education as well
as with cooperation with local science clubs and museums. Public
Diplomacy programming in Kuwait have been effective in engaging
Kuwaiti students, including science students, and Embassy Kuwait
welcomes opportunities to expand math and science cooperation with
Kuwaiti educational institutions. End Summary.

Jumping on the Education Reform Bandwagon


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2. Kuwait Public Diplomacy programming has sought to engage a wide
range of teachers, professors and educational instructors in various
fields of study in Kuwait. The Embassy has outstanding levels of
cooperation with the Ministry of Education. The potential for
cooperation in the mathematics and science spheres in addition to
the current high level of cooperation in English language teaching
is good. Kuwait's Ministry of Education is hosting a Senior English
Language Fellow this year and is scheduled to host a second Fellow
next academic year. The Ministry is currently engaged in reform
processes, including textbook and curriculum reform, in all fields
of study. Increased cooperation between the Embassy and the
Ministry during this effort in the science and math fields, if done
soon, would be timely. Teacher and administrator training as well
as curriculum and textbook reform are fields where assistance is
necessary.



3. Based on general discussions with officials in Kuwait's Ministry
of Education, the Ministry would be open for cooperation with the
Embassy in this effort. Such cooperation would have to be
implemented with care because reform efforts that could be perceived
by conservatives as meddling with the minds of young Kuwaitis, could
be counterproductive. Curriculum reform is a very sensitive issue
in Kuwait. That said, the Embassy is currently assisting the
English language department of the Ministry with a review of its
curriculum and we believe that the Ministry would be open to
increased cooperation in math and science as well.

Bringing a NASA Astronaut to Kuwait


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4. Embassy Public Affairs has done science programming in Kuwait,
at Kuwait University and at the Scientific Center during the past
year. Public Affairs is in the process of organizing a science
exhibit, which would exhibit a NASA Art Paper Show (an IIP product)
in the Kuwait Science Club (a science club serving Kuwaiti high
school students) and at the Kuwait Scientific Center (Kuwait's main
science museum). The program plan is to bring in a NASA astronaut
to offer lectures and to visit schools in conjunction with the Paper
Show exhibit openings. Planning for that program is contingent upon
available funding and any support in funding for such a program
through this initiative would be most welcomed. The visit of a NASA
astronaut to Kuwait would be a highly visible outreach event
targeting Kuwaiti youth and promoting education, both key Mission
Performance Plan goals.



5. As with all programming, funding and available personnel (in
terms of time) are the main hindrances to increasing current math
and science programming through Public Diplomacy with the active
participation of the ES&T officer.



6. Potential partner organizations for this initiative include:
American University of Kuwait
Gulf University for Science and Technology
Kuwait Environmental Society
Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences
Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research
Kuwait Ministry of Education
Kuwait Science Club
Kuwait Scientific Center
Kuwait University
Public Authority for Applied Education and Training
Regional Organization for the Protection of the Marine Environment
(see reftel B)



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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/

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LEBARON