VZCZCXRO1762
RR RUEHDE RUEHDIR
DE RUEHKU #0769 1900954
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 080954Z JUL 08
FM AMEMBASSY KUWAIT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1817
INFO RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS KUWAIT 000769 
 
SIPDIS 
 
NEA/ARP, ECA/PE/C/CU, NEA/PPD (DBENZE) 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EINT KPAO KU
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR DISCUSSES GENDER SEGREGATION WITH U/S 
FOR HIGHER EDUCATION 
 
¶1. (SBU) Summary:  During a July 2 meeting with 
Undersecretary (U/S) for Higher Education Dr. Rasha Al Sabah, 
the Ambassador raised the issue of gender segregation and its 
potential impact on mixed-gender programs, such as the State 
Department-sponsored and AMIDEAST-administered ACCESS English 
Language Microscholarship Program and the private schools 
American diplomatic dependents attend.  The U/S indicated 
that she was not sanguine that much could be done to 
forestall this.  On a more encouraging note, she announced 
that 501 of the new 1500 Government of Kuwait-sponsored (GOK) 
scholarships will be designated for study in the United 
States -- a 400 percent increase from the scholarships 
available in 2007.  In passing she also mentioned that more 
emphasis was being given to vocational training for Kuwaiti 
youth.  End Summary. 
 
¶2. (SBU) During her initial office call on Dr. Rasha Al 
Sabah, the Undersecretary for Higher Education, at the 
Ministry of Education on July 2, Ambassador raised the issue 
of gender segregation in the Kuwaiti educational system. 
Ambassador asked U/S Al Sabah how increased gender 
segregation could affect mixed-gender programs such as the 
ACCESS English Language Microscholarship Program and the 
local American curriculum schools diplomatic dependents 
attend.  U/S Al Sabah replied that "this is our democracy," 
and explained that since the GoK funds the educational 
system, the National Assembly makes the determination in 
regard to gender segregation.  In contrast to the U.S., where 
such a decision could be challenged by other branches of 
government, no such alternative currently exists in Kuwait. 
The only way to change such a vote by the National Assembly 
would be for a subsequent Parliament to overturn the previous 
decision. 
 
¶3.  (U) Prior to a subsequent announcement to the press, 
U/S Al Sabah announced to the Ambassador that there will be a 
400 percent increase in GOK-sponsored scholarships for study 
in the United States.  Out of the 1500 new GOK-sponsored 
scholarships, 501 will be designated for study in the U.S. 
U/S Al Sabah explained that the increase was due to the GOK's 
vision for Kuwait becoming a regional hub for tourism and 
trade.  Towards that end, the Ministry is looking to provide 
scholarships to Kuwaiti students in fields ranging from 
finance to environmental sciences to hospitality services. 
The latter would even include scholarships to culinary 
schools, a specialization which would be considered shocking 
to many in Kuwaiti society. 
 
¶4.  (SBU) Comment:  U/S Al Sabah seemed resigned to the 
increasing gender segregation in Kuwait,s schools starting 
with higher education.  This trend would have an impact on 
U.S. Embassy dependents if/when it extends to private primary 
and secondary schools, and could also potentially affect 
State Department-sponsored programs such as ACCESS.  However, 
U/S Al Sabah's positive announcement of the increase in 
scholarships underscores the value of having a U.S-educated 
person in a senior position within the Ministry of Education. 
 
 
¶5.    (SBU) Comment continued:  This sense of inevitability 
about gender segregation was echoed in another and subsequent 
conversation the Ambassador had with Ms. Fareah Al-Saqqaf, 
the director of a private organization (the Lothan Youth 
Achievement Center) that conducts civic awareness, cultural, 
educational, and vocational training activities for Kuwaiti 
youth of both genders in integrated settings.  The director 
mentioned that she preferred to keep her organization listed 
as a private company, rather than seek registration under any 
GOK-sanctioned charter, precisely to avoid meddling by 
religious conservatives who might prompt GOK officials to 
insist that youth activities at her center be gender 
segregated.  Interestingly, Ms. Al-Saqqaf also mentioned that 
her center provides opportunities for Kuwaiti youth to learn 
such vocational skills as culinary services and that these 
classes are popular.  PAO will follow up with AMIDEAST to 
determine whether their programs, including ACCESS, are 
vulnerable to this directive towards gender segregation.  End 
Comments. 
 
********************************************* * 
For more reporting from Embassy Kuwait, visit: 
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/?cable s 
 
Visit Kuwait's Classified Website: 
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/ 
********************************************* * 
JONES