EDUCATION MINISTER: SLOW ROLLING GENDER

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KUWAIT 000804

SIPDIS

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

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/16/2018
TAGS: EINT KPAO KU PREL PGOV
SUBJECT: EDUCATION MINISTER: SLOW ROLLING GENDER
SEGREGATION

REF: A. KUWAIT 769 B. KUWAIT 90

Classified By: Ambassador Deborah K. Jones for reasons 1.4 b and d.


1. (SBU) Summary: During a July 13 meeting with Minister of
Education Nouriya Al-Sabeeh, the Ambassador raised the issue
of gender segregation and its potential impact on
mixed-gender programs in Kuwait, such as the State
Department-sponsored and AMIDEAST-administered ACCESS English
Language Microscholarship Program, as well as higher
education. The Minister stated that she and "others" would
take to court any National Assembly decision ordering gender
segregation. The Minister also expressed her support for the
501 new Government of Kuwait-sponsored (GOK) scholarships
designated for study in the U.S. (of a total of 1500) (Ref
A). End Summary.


2. (C) During her initial office call on the Minister of
Education at the Ministry on July 13, the Ambassador raised
the issue of gender segregation in the Kuwaiti education
system. (Note: As earlier reported (Ref B),Minister
Al-Sabeeh had survived a 'grilling' by the National Assembly
but the quid pro quo for remaining in the Cabinet was her
acquiescence to gender segregation throughout Kuwait's
education system. The Amir subsequently dissolved the
government. End Note.) The Minister said that original
plans were for the National Assembly to make a decision in
October, following the month of Ramadan. Meanwhile,
Al-Sabeeh has deflected calls from conservative members of
Parliament for immediate implementation by citing the need
for further study of the infrastructure changes and financial
cost associated with implementation. She anticipated that
studies would take "at least" six months.


3. (U) The Ambassador then asked the Minister if increased
gender segregation could affect mixed-gender programs such as
the ACCESS English Language Microscholarship Program, as well
as the local American curriculum schools attended by
diplomatic dependents. The Minister replied, "I don't think
so," stating that there would be exceptions to gender
segregation regulations. Moreover, she and "others" would
fight such a decision in court. The Minister then lamented
the shift in Kuwaiti society from her own student days in the
1960's, when mixed gender education was the norm.


4. (U) The Ambassador welcomed the recent announcement of a
400 percent increase in GOK-sponsored scholarships for
students planning to study in the U.S. (Note: Out of the
1500 new GOK-designated scholarships, 501 will be designated
for study in the U.S. End Note.) The Minister stated that
this specific increase had been her "goal from the beginning."


5. (C) Comment: The Minister appears to be attempting to be
playing a clever tactical game, stalling the implementation
of gender segregation in Kuwaiti schools and universities,
long enough for either a court case to stymie implementation,
or for the Parliament again to be dissolved, which many
(although not all) anticipate will happen come December or
January. This would explain in part another decision by the
Cabinet not to delay the beginning of the academic year from
the first week of September until following Ramadan, as
demanded by the Salafist and ultra-conservative blocs in
Parliament. If schools begins in integrated fashion, per
usual, the Minister can justly argue that mid-term
segregation would be disruptive, whereas a delay until
October would allow for the necessary logistical adjustments
for segregation. If the trend towards gender segregation
were to move forward, it might have a negative 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.


6. (C) This extremely pro-Western minister is nothing if
not courageous. The feisty and upbeat Ms. Al-Sabeeh remarked
that the Amir himself had discouraged her from taking the
floor and offered to dissolved Parliament 'immediately' to
avoid putting her on trial. She had refused, politely but
categorically because as she said, "I had to protect my honor
and my reputation." In the end, she delivered an impressive
performance, deftly sparring with her opponents and survived
a vote of confidence. Immediately following, the Amir
proceeded to dissolve Parliament, but the Minister's
reputation was enhanced. End Comment.

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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/

KUWAIT 00000804 002 OF 002


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JONES