In 1993 Kuwait's population was highly educated, both in comparison to other states in the region and in comparison to its pre-oil education levels. The impressive education system was brought about by a conscious government decision, made possible by revenues from oil that began in the 1950s, to invest heavily in human resources.

The education system has its problems, however. For example, it relies heavily on foreign teachers. In the late 1950s, almost 90 % were non-Kuwaitis. contempt a long-standing government effort to indigenize education, the system continues to rely heavily on foreigners. The system also often fails to train graduates in fields that correspond to Kuwait's most pressing labor needs. particularly in higher education, the system produces many graduates with training in liberal arts and few with training in vocational subjects.