Minister of Education Sayed Jalal Al-Tabtabaei
Your Excellency the Minister of Education, in this report, we put into your hands the facts about the school book printing file, which recently raised a storm of questions within educational and media circles, after the exclusion of major printing presses with extensive experience and advanced technical equipment, and the awarding of contracts worth millions of Kuwaiti dinars to limited-capacity printing presses. It is no longer merely an internal administrative matter. This issue has transformed into a public issue that touches on the integrity of procedures, the safety of public funds, and even the readiness of the next academic year. In one of the most serious issues threatening the stability and integrity of educational work and widely opening the door to suspicions of squandering public funds, a widespread controversy erupted within the Ministry of Education regarding the printing of school books for the 2025/2026 academic year and the violations it entails. What appeared on the surface as mere “practices” and standard tenders quickly escalated into a public issue, against the backdrop of the exclusion of major printing presses with extensive experience and equipment under fl imsy pretexts, while contracts worth millions of Kuwaiti dinars were awarded to limited-capacity printing presses. According to an official memorandum and complaints submitted to Minister Sayed Jalal Al-Tabtabaei, what happened raises suspicion and the question: Are we facing a passing administrative glitch, or a network of vested interests and influence that is tampering with the ministry’s capabilities and flouting regulations, systems and the principle of equal opportunity?
Tenders ‘Violation’
The excluded printing presses explained that they participated in the tender after they officially qualified and had their names published in the Official Gazette on July 20, 2025. They also purchased the tender booklets, paid the fees, and submitted financial offers supported by approved bank guarantees. Surprisingly, the ministry’s purchasing committee decided to exclude them after the tenders were opened. This step is a clear violation of Public Tenders Law No. 49/2016, which stipulates that the reasons for exclusion must be clearly stated in the official minutes before tenders are opened. Even more bizarre, the ministry awarded the printing contracts to printing presses that only possess limited production lines, and some of which have outdated cutting or printing machines. This threatens to delay book deliveries and possibly disrupt the start of the new school year.
One Dinar Pretext
The One Kuwaiti Dinar Pretext Documents revealed that one printing press was excluded under the pretext of an old case in which it did not pay the court fee of only “one Kuwaiti Dinar.” Despite the fact that it paid the amount immediately, the ministry did not back down from the decision and continued to exclude it! Another printing press was excluded because its bid did not mention the paper type.
Paper Quality
The tender document did not include any clause requiring companies to specify the paper type. Furthermore, the printing press practically adhered to the same paper type the ministry used in previous years.
Executive Seizure
A third printing press was excluded under the pretext of an “executive seizure” with a bank. Surprisingly, this procedure is outdated and does not affect its legal or technical capacity. In fact, the printing press executed the ministry’s contracts during the years the seizure existed and participated in bids accompanied by official bank guarantees from the same ban
Duplicate Decisions
One of the shocking ironies is that on July 29, the director of the Curriculum Department addressed all printing presses— including those excluded—under the title “Printing Presses Qualified by the Ministry of Education” regarding amending the specifications for middle school textbooks. If these printing presses were “qualified” based on official correspondence, how could their subsequent exclusion be justified? Strangely, the ministry announced seven new tenders for the printing of Science and Mathematics books, and these tenders were awarded to one of the excluded companies, worth KD415,000. This is despite the fact that these books were covered by previous three-year contracts with another company. This is tantamount to duplication of contracts and opens the door to the waste of public funds.
Controversial Promotion
The controversy did not stop at the exclusion alone. It extended to the direct promotion of one of the companies from Category B to Category A, without going through the usual procedures, such as a field inspection or approval from the Supply Department. This move raised several questions: Who was behind this sudden promotion? Why were the applicable regulations bypassed? Was a technical report prepared to prove the company’s eligibility? Behind the scenes, educators and media professionals are discussing a powerful figure who is said to have used his infl uence to eliminate competitors and secure contracts for certain printing presses. This figure, according to sources, resorted to multiple tricks, including exploiting female employees with no legal experience, drawing them into suspicion and deceiving them. His real goal was to secure tenders for specific printing presses.
Millions in Losses
For their part, the excluded printing presses confirmed in their narrative that they already prepared materials, ink and paper worth more than KD400,000 and provided initial bank guarantees amounting to KD256,000 refl ecting their full readiness to implement the contract. By excluding them, the ministry would have lost bids at much lower prices, opening the door to millions of Kuwaiti dinars in losses for the public purse to less capable printing presses.
Doubts and Suspicions
On the other hand, the award of the textbook printing contracts has raised widespread doubts within educational circles, noting that “the contract was approved without holding a preliminary meeting for qualified printing presses — a procedure essential to ensuring transparency and equal opportunities for all competitors.” The ministry’s failure to hold this meeting—which allows printing presses to inquire about technical specifications and clarify requirements before submitting bids—widely opens the door to questions about the seriousness of the competition and reinforces suspicions of prior arrangements to award contracts to specific printing presses.
EXCLUSION OF A LEGAL BASIS
On Oct 3, 2024, a bank dealing with one of the excluded printing presses withdrew the executive formula for the facilities contract, closed the implementation file, and officially lifted all executive reservations, pursuant to documents issued by the Ministry of Justice. Despite the disappearance of the alleged reason on which the Procurement Committee based its exclusion decision, the exclusion continues. This practice lacks legal basis and a clear violation of the principles of equality and equal opportunity. It raises major questions about the standards of integrity and transparency in the management of the school textbook printing file.
THE CASE BEFORE THE MINISTER
The entire matter is now on the table of Education Minister Eng. Sayed Jalal Al-Tabtabaei, who faces today a real test of reform and combating corruption. Either an urgent, transparent investigation will be launched to restore the principle of equal opportunity and expose the ‘Saturday Mouse’ and those behind it, or suspicions will continue to spread, harming the ministry’s reputation and the public’s trust in it. The educational community, parents and students are all awaiting the minister’s firm decisions to protect public funds and ensure that school books reach students’ desks on time, free from any suspicious deals or narrow calculations.
URGENT QUESTIONS BEFORE THE MINISTER
The issue today, Your Excellency the Minister, is no longer an internal administrative matter, as it is rather a matter of public opinion, with the following questions awaiting clear answers:
● Why were major printing presses excluded after opening bids?
● Who authorized the award of contracts to printing presses that are technically incapable of completing the task?
● Where is the role of the legal department in reviewing decisions before issuing them?
● Did the purchasing committee submit to pressure from influential figures?
● How are tenders issued for books that had already been contracted for three years?
● Who bears responsibility for delaying the books if the new printing presses are late in printing and delivering them?
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