- A Kuwaiti teacher reportedly received a full salary for 20 years without attending work.
- The Education Ministry failed to detect the prolonged absence.
- The case has triggered public outrage and a formal investigation.
The Kuwaiti Ministry of Education is facing intense scrutiny after it was revealed that a teacher continued to receive a salary for two decades without ever showing up to work.
Public response has been swift and critical, with citizens demanding accountability and reforms. Officials have since launched an internal investigation to determine how such a massive oversight occurred, and whether other similar cases exist within the system.
20-Year Salary Blunder Exposes Flaws in Kuwait’s Education System
This extraordinary case highlights a gaping flaw in Kuwait’s administrative monitoring. Payroll systems and attendance tracking appear either outdated or largely ignored, enabling such errors — or potential abuse — to go unnoticed for years.
While some speculate the absence may have been covered up internally, others believe the issue is rooted in systemic inefficiency. Critics argue that the lack of digital record-keeping and regular audits made it easy for the mistake to persist undetected.
The incident has reignited discussions about public sector accountability and transparency in Kuwait. Citizens and watchdog groups are urging the government to implement tighter controls and real-time tracking systems for employees.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Education faces a credibility crisis. Officials are now under pressure to restore public trust by identifying responsible parties and taking disciplinary action swiftly.
The 20-year salary scandal is more than just an administrative slip — it’s a wake-up call for Kuwait’s public institutions to embrace reform, transparency, and technology-driven accountability.
“The price of apathy towards public affairs is to be ruled by evil men.” — Plato
