A Kuwaiti state employment body has blocked hiring foreign history teachers, citing availability of Kuwaiti citizens who hold degrees in history, local media reported.

The blockage was made by the Civil Service Commission in response to a letter from the Education Ministry asking about the possibility of appointing experienced non-Kuwaiti history teachers to offset a shortage in the subject, sources in the commission said.

The commission responded by objecting to the request, saying that there are Kuwaitis majoring in history who are waiting to get the job, they added.

The commission is opposed to exceptions to applying “Kuwaitisation” of jobs exceeding 90 per cent in most government institutions except in health and education sectors where foreigners’ employment must be limited to rare specialities that cannot yet be filled by citizens, the sources said.