The status of teachers in Kuwait, and its relationship with teacher education

• Main Author: Al-Obaid, Mashail
• Published: University College London (University of London) 2006
• Subjects: 371.10095367
• Online Access: http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.530743

This thesis is an investigation into teachers' status in Kuwait, what it is and the reasons for it. The question was posed and systematically investigated as to the standing of teachers, an issue of great significance for Kuwait and its education system. The thesis also explores the connections between teacher status and teacher education and the possibility of using improvements in teacher education to raise the status of teachers. The study is heavily based on empirical work, specifically: three substantial surveys and a case study that includes a fourth smaller survey. The collection of data is predominantly, though not exclusively, quantitative. A short questionnaire on teachers' status was administered to, 5200 citizens, 0.65% of the popUlation, using a network or 'snowball' technique. A longer questionnaire was administered to 320 final-year students in a cross-section of Kuwaiti secondary schools. A third questionnaire was administered to 1200 teachers (4% of the teacher population). The response rates for all three surveys exceeded 95%. The hypothetically significant variables considered in these surveys variously included gender, socio-cultural group, age, family status, academic ability, professional experience, subject specialism and nationality. In addition, an extended case study was carried out in the College of Basic Education, the training institution for primary teachers in Kuwait. The findings of these surveys and of the case-study are compared with each other and, to a lesser extent, with previous research that has been conducted in regard to teacher status in other educational systems. At an early stage of the analysis, some findings were presented to two members of the 'educational elite' in Kuwait for their interpretation and comment. The following are some examples of the findings of the study. Kuwaiti society sees the relative status of teachers as middle-order. The public have higher views of teachers than either teachers or trainee teachers have of themselves. The standing of the College of Basic Education is perceived as low by all sectors, including trainees at the college. Up to 28% of school-Ieavers were conSidering teaching as a career option, but almost none of these are academically able students. Kuwaitis choose teaching very much more for pragmatic than for 'vocational' reasons. Sociocultural group is the variable with the widest influence on the matters investigated. Gender is less significant than expected in some areas.