Expat teachers who help students cheat in exams and other tests face deportation in a classroom crackdown in Kuwait.
Dozens of students have been caught being fed answers from outside exam rooms with miniature Bluetooth earpieces.
One student had an electronic earpiece pushed so far in his ear to try to deceive invigilators that the device had to be extracted by doctors at a hospital.
He pleaded for the return of the device which he claimed he needed to pass another exam he was sitting the next day.
“We now have a zero tolerance policy towards cheating,” said Education Minister Bader Al Eisa.
“Too many teachers are turning a blind eye to blatant cheating or are even helping students achieve better grades. If we find cheating is taking place, the teacher will be sacked and if they are a foreigner, they will be deported.”
Illegal barbeques
Expats in Kuwait have also been threatened with deportation if the celebrated the new year too loudly or if they hold a barbeque outside of special areas in parks or on beaches.
The Interior Ministry argues unofficial barbeques outside the special zones lead to too much damage and litter.
The ministry claimed illegal barbeques led to 400 people being fined the maximum of £675 each, while the government spent nearly £70,000 clearing up after them.
“The penalties obviously need to be stricter to deter people from breaking this simple law,” said an Interior Ministry spokesman.
The deportation measures implemented by the Kuwaiti government have been criticised in local media and by expat groups as ‘discrimination’ against foreigners, while reports claim Egyptian and Lebanese officials are calling on the government to relax the strict rules.
The population of Kuwait is estimated at 3.5 million, of whom two-thirds are expat workers.
Most come from Egypt, India, Pakistan and Bangladesh to carry out menial or blue collar jobs.
Expat amnesty
Meanwhile, an amnesty will soon open for expats in Oman who have expired work permits.
Any expat who turns themselves in to the authorities as an illegal immigrant will be allowed to leave without punishment.
The Ministry of Manpower explained similar amnesties had operated in the past.
“The amnesty helps regulate the job market and aids workers without the right papers to go home without facing legal proceedings and deportation,” said a spokesman.
Around 60,000 expats left the country during the last amnesties.