As part of efforts to strengthen the integrity of education and protect Kuwait’s labor market from fraudulent qualifications, the Ministry of Higher Education has completed a new draft law on the equivalency of academic degrees, introducing stricter penalties and clearer regulatory procedures. The law aims to ensure that only accredited and equivalent degrees are recognized for employment or promotion in both public and private sectors.

The draft legislation replaces Law No. 78 of 2019, which was suspended just months after its enactment. It establishes a more comprehensive framework for the accreditation, verification, and use of academic qualifications, closing loopholes that previously allowed individuals to exploit unaccredited degrees for personal or professional gain.

According to government sources, the Ministry worked closely with other state bodies to address gaps in the previous law and introduce precise legal provisions to combat the misuse of non-equivalent certificates. The updated law introduces tougher penalties, including imprisonment of up to five years and fines reaching KD 10,000 for those found guilty of using, accepting, or benefiting from fraudulent or unrecognized academic degrees, reports Al-Rai daily.

Under Article 2, a special committee will be formed within the Ministry of Higher Education by a decision of the Minister. Headed by the Undersecretary of the Ministry, the committee will include representatives from relevant government agencies and Ministry officials. This structure offers greater flexibility than the previous law, which mandated representation from a fixed list of bodies such as Kuwait University, the Civil Service Bureau, and the Ministry of Health.

Article 3 outlines the committee’s powers, which include overseeing all matters related to evaluation and equivalency of degrees, proposing categories of workers eligible for recognition, coordinating with international educational institutions, and formulating policies and strategies related to academic accreditation. The committee may also authorize specific Ministry departments to issue equivalency certificates in certain cases.

In Article 4, the draft law explicitly prohibits the use of non-equivalent academic certificates for employment, promotion, or any material or moral benefit. It also forbids the use of unrecognized academic titles in the media or public spaces. Exceptions will apply only to individuals who were already employed before the law’s enactment, faculty members on government scholarships, and certain categories of staff in licensed institutions as determined by the committee.

Under Article 5, all job applicants must submit an equivalency application to the Ministry before taking up employment, with a one-year grace period to obtain approval. Employment contracts will be terminated if equivalency is not granted within that time unless the committee explicitly rejects the application earlier. This provision introduces a more structured and transparent approach to hiring compliance.

The penalty framework under Articles 7 and 8 represents a major tightening of enforcement. Violations may lead to up to one year in prison and fines of KD 1,000–5,000, while those who knowingly accept inequivalent certificates face harsher penalties, including up to five years in prison and dismissal from public employment. The most severe penalties apply to public employees who use or approve fake degrees for personal gain, reinforcing the government’s stance on protecting public integrity.

Additionally, Article 6 authorizes the Ministry to charge fees for certificate verification and accreditation services in line with Law No. 1 of 2025. The Ministry may also delegate verification tasks to approved authorities capable of confirming the authenticity of foreign academic credentials.

These entities will be bound by contractual obligations to maintain data confidentiality and uphold quality assurance standards.

Overall, the new draft law represents a decisive step toward ensuring academic integrity, fair employment practices, and institutional accountability in Kuwait.

By imposing stronger penalties and establishing clear oversight mechanisms, the Ministry of Higher Education aims to protect both the credibility of the education system and the competitiveness of the national workforce.