By Passant Hisham

KUWAIT: Traffic clogged the streets of Kuwait on Tuesday with the return of nearly 500,000 students to private Arabic and public schools. Many parents arrived early to drop off their children, attempting to avoid delays on their way to work, but the extra commute time during the school season significantly lengthens their day. Teachers also expressed frustration, requesting the reinstatement of flexible work hours, which previously helped them avoid peak traffic.

The peak traffic hours, from 6:30 to 8 am and 1 to 3 pm, saw heavy gridlocks, which residents say is a recurring issue. However, some parents observed improvements in traffic management, with police controlling U-turns. Observers have cited synchronized school and work hours as a major factor behind the congestion on the roads, calling for better public transportation rather than temporary fixes like using safety lanes. Other suggestions included staggering school and work hours and relocating schools to less crowded areas.

After first graders returned to school on Monday, elementary, middle and high school students began the new academic year on Tuesday after the summer break, with kindergartens set to welcome students on Wednesday. According to official figures, a total of 497,206 students are enrolled in public and private Arabic schools, including 29,637 kindergarteners, 149,316 elementary students, 127,548 middle schoolers and 92,564 high school students. (See Page 2)