Illegal fundraising risks legal action

KUWAIT CITY, May 6: Assistant Undersecretary for Educational Development and Activities at the Ministry of Education Maryam Al-Enezi has banned the collection of all types of charitable donations in schools -- whether from students, parents or staff. In an official circular to the educational districts, private, religious education and special education schools; Al-Enezi pointed out that “this step complies with the directive of the Ministry of Social Affairs on the temporary suspension of fundraising activities and in ensuring that schools are not exploited for activities outside their educational scope.” Al-Enezi said the charitable work in the country is one of the most important components of national identity and has a rich history reflecting the values of solidarity and giving.
“However, the current phase requires regulating the mechanisms of charitable work in all facilities, including schools,” she explained She stated that to regulate school activities and prevent the use of the educational environment for activities outside the educational framework, the ministry emphasized the need to comply with the following instructions: “It is strictly prohibited to collect charitable donations in any form within schools. It is also prohibited to organize charitable events or exhibitions aimed at collecting financial or in-kind donations, unless approval is obtained from the concerned authorities, per Ministry of Education Circular No. 59 issued on November 2, 2023.” She stressed that any violation of these instructions will expose the school to legal accountability, as per the regulations and systems in force in the Ministry of Education. She urged the school administrations to fully abide by the regulations and instructions to preserve the neutrality of the educational environment and its reputation.