AMBASSADOR DISCUSSES GENDER SEGREGATION WITH U/S

UNCLAS KUWAIT 000769

SIPDIS

NEA/ARP, ECA/PE/C/CU, NEA/PPD (DBENZE)

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EINT KPAO KU
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR DISCUSSES GENDER SEGREGATION WITH U/S
FOR HIGHER EDUCATION


1. (SBU) Summary: During a July 2 meeting with
Undersecretary (U/S) for Higher Education Dr. Rasha Al Sabah,
the Ambassador raised the issue of gender segregation and its
potential impact on mixed-gender programs, such as the State
Department-sponsored and AMIDEAST-administered ACCESS English
Language Microscholarship Program and the private schools
American diplomatic dependents attend. The U/S indicated
that she was not sanguine that much could be done to
forestall this. On a more encouraging note, she announced
that 501 of the new 1500 Government of Kuwait-sponsored (GOK)
scholarships will be designated for study in the United
States -- a 400 percent increase from the scholarships
available in 2007. In passing she also mentioned that more
emphasis was being given to vocational training for Kuwaiti
youth. End Summary.


2. (SBU) During her initial office call on Dr. Rasha Al
Sabah, the Undersecretary for Higher Education, at the
Ministry of Education on July 2, Ambassador raised the issue
of gender segregation in the Kuwaiti educational system.
Ambassador asked U/S Al Sabah how increased gender
segregation could affect mixed-gender programs such as the
ACCESS English Language Microscholarship Program and the
local American curriculum schools diplomatic dependents
attend. U/S Al Sabah replied that "this is our democracy,"
and explained that since the GoK funds the educational
system, the National Assembly makes the determination in
regard to gender segregation. In contrast to the U.S., where
such a decision could be challenged by other branches of
government, no such alternative currently exists in Kuwait.
The only way to change such a vote by the National Assembly
would be for a subsequent Parliament to overturn the previous
decision.


3. (U) Prior to a subsequent announcement to the press,
U/S Al Sabah announced to the Ambassador that there will be a
400 percent increase in GOK-sponsored scholarships for study
in the United States. Out of the 1500 new GOK-sponsored
scholarships, 501 will be designated for study in the U.S.
U/S Al Sabah explained that the increase was due to the GOK's
vision for Kuwait becoming a regional hub for tourism and
trade. Towards that end, the Ministry is looking to provide
scholarships to Kuwaiti students in fields ranging from
finance to environmental sciences to hospitality services.
The latter would even include scholarships to culinary
schools, a specialization which would be considered shocking
to many in Kuwaiti society.


4. (SBU) Comment: U/S Al Sabah seemed resigned to the
increasing gender segregation in Kuwait,s schools starting
with higher education. This trend would have an impact on
U.S. Embassy dependents if/when it extends to private primary
and secondary schools, and could also potentially affect
State Department-sponsored programs such as ACCESS. However,
U/S Al Sabah's positive announcement of the increase in
scholarships underscores the value of having a U.S-educated
person in a senior position within the Ministry of Education.



5. (SBU) Comment continued: This sense of inevitability
about gender segregation was echoed in another and subsequent
conversation the Ambassador had with Ms. Fareah Al-Saqqaf,
the director of a private organization (the Lothan Youth
Achievement Center) that conducts civic awareness, cultural,
educational, and vocational training activities for Kuwaiti
youth of both genders in integrated settings. The director
mentioned that she preferred to keep her organization listed
as a private company, rather than seek registration under any
GOK-sanctioned charter, precisely to avoid meddling by
religious conservatives who might prompt GOK officials to
insist that youth activities at her center be gender
segregated. Interestingly, Ms. Al-Saqqaf also mentioned that
her center provides opportunities for Kuwaiti youth to learn
such vocational skills as culinary services and that these
classes are popular. PAO will follow up with AMIDEAST to
determine whether their programs, including ACCESS, are
vulnerable to this directive towards gender segregation. End
Comments.

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JONES