The regular 125th meeting of the Arab Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization (ALECSO) began today in Muscat. The Sultanate of Oman is hosting this two-day meeting, which is attended by representatives from 22 Arab countries and representatives from the General Secretariat of the Arab League.
Review of Programs and Activities
This meeting serves as a prerequisite for the 28th General Conference of the organization, scheduled for November 12. The Executive Council will review several items on its agenda during this meeting. Important items include the Director General's report on the implementation of the organization's programs and activities for the year 2025, strategic programs for international cooperation and partnerships, strengthening the role of media and marketing, as well as the educational, cultural, and scientific conditions in Palestine and countries affected by crises and disasters.
New Developments and Initiatives
Hani Maqbel Al-Muqbil, the Chairman of the ALECSO Executive Council, emphasized in his opening speech that the council has witnessed several developments during the previous term under the presidency of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Among these developments is the expansion of member countries' participation and the increase in proposals and initiatives submitted to 34, reflecting the growing interaction and participation among member countries.
Raed Ali Saleh Al-Jubouri, Director of the Department of Arab Organizations and Unions at the General Secretariat of the Arab League, thanked the Sultanate of Oman for its continuous support of the Arab League and its specialized organizations. He praised ALECSO's efforts in preparing for this meeting under exceptional circumstances and urged Arab countries to benefit from the programs and activities presented by this organization.
Professor Dr. Mohammed Ould Ammar, the Director General of ALECSO, reviewed the organization's prominent programs and initiatives in the fields of education, culture, and science. He mentioned the development of educational thought and the launch of the second Arab decade for literacy in the field of education. In terms of culture, he addressed initiatives for the preservation of intangible cultural heritage, the Arab Cultural Capital in Kuwait, and youth empowerment.
In the field of science and research, he discussed several topics including the Arab research strategy, the ALECSO scientific portal, and support for startups. He also condemned the attacks on several Arab countries and the ongoing violations against the Palestinian people and their deprivation of the right to education. He announced a comprehensive initiative to support countries experiencing exceptional and emergency conditions and reviewed the efforts of the organization's foreign centers and institutions.
The Executive Council also reviewed several proposals submitted by member countries. These proposals include Libya's proposal to select the city of Tripoli as the Arab Child Capital in 2027, Lebanon's proposal regarding a draft Arab strategy for persons with disabilities, and the Palestinian government's proposal regarding the twinning of Jerusalem as the Arab Child Capital.
In addition, the council reviewed proposals from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia regarding the unified Arabic lexicon platform, the language policy system in Arab countries, and the Saudi Arabian award for heritage.
