KUWAIT: Minister of Information and State Minister for Youth Affairs Mohammad Nasser Al-Jabri, Dr Tarek El-Sheikh, Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General and Resident Coordinator to the State of Kuwait and the Undersecretary of the Ministry of State for Minister of State for Youth Affairs Dr Meshaal Al-Shaheen Al-Rabie’ released the following joint press release on World Youth Skills Day:

This year we are commemorating World Youth Skills Day in a challenging context. The outbreak of the COVID-19 enforced countries to take precautionary measures including the lockdown of schools, universities, and other institutions. Currently nearly 70 percent of the world’s learners are affected by school closures across all education levels, with more than one in six young people are out of work due to COVID-19.

Hence, the World Youth Skills Day this year will be focusing on resilience and taking stock of the impact of the COVID-19 crisis on skills development and explore strategies in response to the unfolding economic crisis. This entails preparing young people with the capacities to respond to rapid changes in employment and entrepreneurship in the sectors that are hardest hit by the crisis. This will ensure that the great skills possessed by the youth are utilized for the greater good rather than being wasted.

Top priority

Minister of Information and Minister of State for Youth Affairs Mohammad Nasser Al-Jabri stated that, in light of Kuwait’s celebration of the International Day for Youth Skills adopted by the United Nations on July 15 of each year, we are interested in recalling the Kuwaiti government’s efforts in empowering young people and preparing them to face future challenges by adopting a number of programs and the support that was reflected positively on Kuwaiti youth, whether from a scientific, intellectual or sporting aspect, as well as in the relevant aspects of entrepreneurship.

Jabri stressed that the Office of the Minister of State for Youth Affairs works to implement the national youth policy adopted by the Council of Ministers by setting a road map for its implementation in order to revitalize the role of youth in Kuwait and support it by all means in implementation of the directives of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and activate the directives of His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah. He explained that the Ministry is making great efforts in developing modern strategies to keep pace with the developments of the events imposed by the pandemic.

Minister Jabri praised Kuwaiti youth, who were highly responsible, as they demonstrated qualitative skills during the coronavirus crisis and stressed that it is one of the important aspects that depend on them in times of crisis. Confronting the spread of the virus, and their sincere national efforts contributed to reducing the burden on the facilities that they volunteered with such as: the assistance of elderly, the sick and others, and their commitment to the health measures adopted by the government to reduce the spreading of the virus, following the preventive measures, obtaining official information from its source, confirmed the extent of the high level of awareness among Kuwaiti youth which greatly contributed to the fight against inaccurate information.

Minister Jabri indicated that the Ministry of State for Youth Affairs had launched a number of programs and events through remote communication, in which a large number of young people participated, taking advantage of the quarantine period that the country went through during previous periods to raise the level of their skills and communicate with them effectively and that the Ministry would spare no effort in Implementing its vision to support youth, as it will launch a number of programs during the coming periods that will be in line with the conditions of the stage the country is going through. Minister Jabri indicated that the State of Kuwait celebrates the International Day for Youth Skills confirms its continuation of its regional and international role in the success of all endeavors aimed at empowering youth and providing job opportunities appropriate to their aspirations.

Resilient youth

Dr Tarek El-Sheikh added that this day offers an opportunity to be reminded of the vision of the Incheon Declaration: “Education 2030” that is captured by Sustainable Development Goal 4 “Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.” Education 2030 devotes considerable attention to technical and vocational skills development, specifically regarding access to affordable quality Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET); the acquisition of technical and vocational skills for employment, decent work and entrepreneurship; the elimination of gender disparity and ensuring access for the vulnerable. Kuwait is a leading country in fostering youth skills and providing all the needed support to equip them with the needed skills for the future.

The Kuwaiti youth set a global example on the efforts exerted by them during the COVID-19 pandemic as we have seen them as volunteers in the frontline delivering aid to the most vulnerable, complementing the Government’s efforts in the response and initiating local advocacy campaigns. The youth in Kuwait constitute most of its population, thus; stressing on the importance of the role of the youth in the advancement and development of the society.

Building on this, and in alignment with the 75th anniversary of the creation of the United Nations, the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office in Kuwait in collaboration with the UNESCO Office for the Gulf States and Yemen, and UNICEF Regional Office for GCC, will be organizing a discussion on the meaning and promise of inclusive education in the COVID-19. The UN75 Talk on Education aims to unpack the above challenges and opportunities, take stock of the current education situation in Kuwait and, with support of education partners and stakeholders, identify opportunities and map out recommendations to address them. In doing so, this talk will draw lessons and build upon insights and perspectives from speakers and participants to the support the ongoing efforts of the State of Kuwait in developing and enhancing its response to education disruptions.

Renewed vision

The Undersecretary of the Ministry of State for Youth Affairs, Dr Meshaal Al-Shaheen Al-Rabie’ stressed that the office is currently working on developing its perceptions to keep pace with the changes brought about by the coronavirus pandemic through the creation of programs and setting priorities that are in line with the issues imposed by this crisis of issues that require us to keep pace with the state’s efforts in preparing and empowering young people. Rabie’ said that Kuwait, as it celebrates the International Youth Skills Day, has set a series of government measures to meet the needs of young people in all fields to reduce the consequences and negative effects of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).

Dr Rabie’ explained that this pandemic imposed on us the renewal of our strategies to implement the vision of the Office of the Minister of State for Youth Affairs to ensure the development and participation of community-based youth and enable them to lead and creative leadership in the State of Kuwait. Before the distinguished cabinet, the state’s efforts to gradually return to life will be kept up with a simulation of the ministry’s perceptions of the future. Dr Rabie’ also indicated that the role of the Minister of State for Youth Affairs in empowering and supporting youth comes within the state’s direction in directing youth towards work and scientific expansion and protecting them intellectually and physically. The role of the Ministry will be the guide for the Kuwaiti youth to enable and support them in their academic, knowledge or sporting interests, and the Ministry will have a role in preparing young people to join the labor market and innovative entrepreneurship.

Designated by the General Assembly in 2014, the World Youth Skills Day is an opportunity for young people, technical and vocational education and training (TVET) institutions, and public and private sector stakeholders to acknowledge and celebrate the importance of equipping young people with skills for employment, decent work and entrepreneurship.