Kuwait parliament approves allowances to students

Kuwait National Assembly (Parliament) submitted a draft law to the government to grant allowances to both students of Kuwait University and the Public Authority for Applied Education and Training (PAAET) after being approved by the Parliament in its second reading. Forty-two members voted in favor for the draft law out of 47 attending members, while five objected. Meanwhile, 39 members out of the 48 attending members approved a suggestion to issue this draft law on a sense of urgency, according to article 65 of the constitution, yet nine members objected. The law in article 65 stipulates that "the Amir has the right to suggest, ratify and issue laws. The issuance date should be effective within 30 days of its submission to the government by the National Assembly. However the duration can be reduced to seven days in case it was approved on a sense of urgency by majority of the parliament members. Official holidays are not included in the law's issuance duration. The law is regarded to be ratified and should be issued within the prescribed period. The explanatory memorandum attached to the draft law noted that "according to the increase of living expenses in the country due to a respective rise of prices, the draft law stipulates an increase of the monthly allowance of married students to KD 350 instead of the current KD 250. While, the social and incentive rewards will be increased to KD 200, instead of KD 100. Beneficiaries of this law will be determined according to their scientific excellence and progress.