What Was the
Growth Story of Kuwait’s Education Sector during 2012-2017?
Kuwait
Education Market
has grown to KWD ~ million in 2017 from KWD ~ in 2012 at a CAGR of ~ during the
same period. The primary reason for the robust market growth during 2012-2014
has been the shift in preference of Kuwaiti parents towards private K-12 players
for educating their children. A growing number of private universities were
established to cater to the demand for extending quality higher education. This
has brought in higher enrollments and revenue, thereby supplementing the
overall market. Kuwaiti government focused on digitizing all books from 2011.
The increased usage of e-learning and m-learning has improved the caliber of
Kuwaiti students in general.
During 2015-2017, expansion in expat
population at an alarming rate has been the main driver of the market. With the
opportunity to earn higher disposable income and the absence of personal income
taxes, people from various countries have been settling in the country.
Increasing number of privates schools have been constructed to cater to the growing
demand. A trend of rising fee in private schools has also been witnessed due to
rising operational costs. The government has continued to partner with elite
colleges abroad in a bid to encourage students to enroll in these universities.
This has encouraged students to further their studies outside Kuwait,
increasing enrollment in test preparation centers.
How has the
K-12 performed during the Review Period?
Kuwait’s K-12 education market has grown to
KWD ~ million in 2017 from KWD ~ in 2012 at a CAGR of ~ during the same period.
The government expenditure during 2012 to 2017 has also grown from KWD ~ to KWD
~. The major trends driving growth within the market have been:-
Shift to
Private Schools due to Lack of Modern Technology: It has been analyzed that major
public schools have not been equipped with latest technologies such as SMART
board interactive displays, tablets, laser printers & strong, consistent
Wi-Fi connection, resulting in less interactive ways of teaching hence, a lower
quality of education extended. This combined with the higher prestige offered
through western curriculums taught in private schools and a higher disposable
income earned by citizens in Kuwait has led to higher enrolment in private
schools.
Improvement
in Standard of Education:
In 2015, The Ministry of Education, together with the NCED (National Center for
Education Department) and the World Bank launched a five-year technical
cooperation agreement focusing on education reforms. The program launched
focused on curriculum enhancement & development, effective teaching and
school leadership. The program has improved the quality of the teaching &
learning, thereby increasing government expenditure.
Growth in
Low & High Skill Jobs Opportunities with Higher Pay: High disposable income and no private
income taxes have resulted in a strong flow of expats coming to Kuwait.
Increased willingness to pay has also expanded the private market.
What Are The
Major Customer Decision Making Parameters In Private K-12 School?
Location: Customers are less likely to go to
enroll their children in a school that is far away unless the quality of
education is superior to closer institutions, to save on time and other
resources. Hawalli Governorate is a popular area for good private schools and
they cater to many of Kuwait’s populous.
Price: The public education is free of cost
to all Kuwaitis. Expats have to enroll their children into private schools.
Expats and Kuwaitis earn high disposable income and can afford to send their
children to the expensive western schools. For those with limited resources,
the options lie mostly in the Indian and Pakistani schools, which are some of
the cheapest private schools in the country.
Services
Offered:
Schools compete on more than quality of education. Extracurricular activities
are also an important parameter to focus on and schools cater to fulfill most
requirements. Schools provide a Model UN team, music clubs, school trips, and
community services. They also offer Olympic size swimming pools, theatre and
arts, and sports clubs to get an edge over competitors.
Brand Image: The western schools are very popular
due to high prestige attached. However, there is a large Indian and Pakistani
population with schools catering specifically to their requirements. Parents
place higher trust in a good brand school and are more willing to send their
children to these institutions for mind-nurture and physically-development.
Segregation: Most public schools are segregation
by gender in Kuwait. There are also schools catering just for girls in the
private sector for parents uncomfortable with a co-ed education.
What are the
Current Challenges Faced by Customers in K-12 Market?
Teaching/Curriculum
Quality: There is high attrition rate for teachers in
this sector generating issues for students to adapt. Many under-qualified teachers are accepted
due to the lack of educators resulting in a substandard level of education.
Teachers are sometimes encouraged not to hand-out failing grades, as it lowers
the overall passing rate of the school. Many students pass without the required
knowledge & skills for that class.
Cost of
Education:
Education is costly for Non-Kuwaitis. Western schools charge an enormous fee
that is not affordable for all customers. Customers who cannot afford the western
schools have to enroll in the cheaper Indian and Pakistani schools that may
pose as a challenge to children not familiar with the cultural backgrounds.
Over
Discipline:
Abuse of children, verbal or physical is prohibited by law and yet it is a
common occurrence in public schools.
Availability: Stateless Children (Bidoon) are not
guaranteed education for free in the public school and many cannot afford to
study in the private schools.
Technology: Smart phones and other recreational
gadgets allowed can become distractions from learning for some students.
Prolonged exposure at a young age can lead to addiction, weak eyesight and have
a negative impact on the psychological development of a child. These gadgets
are also sometimes used to cheat but there have been measures put into place to
dissuade such activity.
Time Period
Captured in the Report
2012-2017 – Historical Period
2018-2022 – Future Forecast
Key Segments
Covered
Market Segmentation for Kuwait K-12 Private
Education
Market Segmentation by Level of Education
(Kindergarten, Primary, Intermediate, Secondary)
Market Segmentation by Gender (Male &
Female)
Market Segmentation by Nationality (Kuwaiti
& Non-Kuwaiti)
Market Segmentation by School Type (Foreign
& Arabic)
Market Segmentation for Kuwait Test
Preparation
Market Segmentation by Revenue on the Basis of
Type of Test Taken (IELTS, TOEFL, GMAT, GRE, SAT)
Key Target
Audience
Private K-12 Schools
Government Organizations
Test Preparation Institutes
Private Vocational Training Institutes
International Schools
International Colleges/Universities
Global E-learning Companies
Investors
For more
information on the research report, refer to below link:
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