KUWAIT: The Minister of Education and Higher Education Dr Adel Al-Adwani, issued a decision assigning a committee headed by the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Higher Education to examine post-secondary academic certificates of all degrees for national and expat employees at the ministry.

The decision applies to those who graduated from outside Kuwait in or after the year 2000.

Government agencies had submitted the credentials of their employees to the Civil Service Commission (CSC) following orders from former Prime Minister Sheikh Dr Mohammad Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah.

The decision to establish the committee stipulates checking the validity of scientific degrees and reviewing them in accordance with the standards approved by the higher education ministry. According to the decision, the committee may form subcommittees and seek the assistance of whomever it deems appropriate to perform its work.

The committee will submit a periodic report every month on its work to the minister, as well as a final report on its findings to be submitted at the end of the committee’s six-month term.

The higher education ministry said in a statement that this decision comes in implementation of the directives of the Council of Ministers on the importance of combating fake certificates and ensuring the validity of the educational qualifications provided by state employees.

It also aims to confirm the employees have the qualifications necessary to perform their tasks efficiently. Establishing the committee will also ensure justice and equality between all employees and job applicants.

The step also comes within the framework of the minister’s commitment to take effective and serious measures in applying the law and combating any manifestations of corruption. The committee will be headed by the undersecretary of higher education and will include representatives of the ministry, the Civil Service Bureau, the Public Authority for Manpower and the Fatwa and Legislation Department. — KUNA