Badr Al-Essa

KUWAIT: Minister of Education Badr Al-Essa issued a ministerial decree yesterday aimed at halting private school fee hikes. According to the decree, private schools should abide by the decision or face consequences. Schools violating the decree will receive a warning letter, which will be followed by suspension if the educational facility continues with the violation, said the decree. It stressed that any additional expenses and charges taken unlawfully by the violating schools should be returned in accordance with the new decision.

Earlier this year, the National Assembly approved a recommendation stipulating that all fee increases by private schools must be suspended immediately until a parliamentary committee reviews the issue with the minister of education. The recommendation was passed following strong criticism by MPs against a number of private foreign schools that unilaterally raised their fees before obtaining a permit from the ministry. Essa had said the government accepted the recommendation, adding that the ministry had formed a committee to study the issue of fees at private schools.

Separately, liberal political groups yesterday strongly criticized what they called an attempt by the government to reduce the independence of the Kuwaiti judiciary in a new draft law under preparation. The National Democratic Movement described the proposed government law as a "dangerous conspiracy" against the independence of the judiciary, while the Kuwait Democratic Forum described it as an attempt to marginalize the judiciary.

The two groups said Justice Minister Yaqoub Al-Sane is planning to submit a draft law to the National Assembly soon that takes away key powers from the judiciary and undermines its independence, therefore threatening the principle of the separation of powers. KDF said in a statement that any draft law that does not guarantee the complete and full independence of the judiciary away from the government is totally rejected and would lead to restricting the judiciary.

The group said that transferring part of the powers enjoyed by the judiciary to the government is an attempt to marginalize the judiciary and make it a department following the government, which eventually undermines the structure of constitutional institutions and the democratic system. It also charged the government of trying to control the judiciary, adding that despite certain reservations, the judiciary in its current form is far better from the situation under the proposed bill.

NDM said the government's attempt to reduce the independence of the judiciary is a government coup against the justice system. The group called on the judges to shoulder their national responsibility and stand against these attempts which threaten the foundations of the judiciary. The government has not yet submitted the draft law, but officials and MPs have been talking about it for a very long time.

The Assembly's health committee meanwhile will review today a key draft law on amending the rules of the health insurance scheme for expatriates and proposals to impose charges on some services. The committee will also discuss to set up a Kuwaiti company for health insurance. The panel plans to discuss these issues with the ministers of health and social affairs and labor.

Also yesterday, MP Faisal Al-Duwaisan yesterday asked the interior minister about a report published in a local Arabic newspaper about a plot by Hezbollah and Iraqi militias to carry out bombings in Kuwait during the holy month of Ramadan. The lawmaker said that publishing such reports, even if they are true, will have serious sectarian impacts on the Kuwaiti society. He called on authorities to stop such reports. Duwaisan asked the interior minister if the report was true and how such sensitive reports can reach newspapers before the ministry issues a statement.

He also asked the minister if security officials are allowed to leak such reports to the press and if the ministry was aware of the serious consequences of publishing such news on the society. But the interior ministry categorically denied the report, urging the press to exercise extreme caution while dealing with such sensitive news.

   By B Izzak