The Executive Board of the Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization (ALECSO) held its 114th Procedural Session remotely on July 8, 2021, and elected the new Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson and Rapporteur of the Board.
The new Chairperson of the Executive Board, Mr. Hani bin Moqbel, from Saudi Arabia, delivered a statement in which he thanked the Member States that voted for him. He also commended the excellent organization of the electronic voting process, and paid tribute to the Director-General of ALECSO for the successful running of the Organization and the positive results achieved amid the current exceptional circumstances. He called on the Board members to increase cooperation toward further strengthening the Organization so that it can most effectively carry out its role and mandate.
On his part, the Director-General welcomed the new members of the Board and thanked the outgoing members. He stressed the importance of the current session of the Board held, amid exceptional circumstances, to address crucial agenda items. He reviewed the main accomplishments and initiatives implemented in 2020 during the COVID-19 crisis which has paralyzed life and caused school closures and education disruption.
The Director-General expressed thanks to Member States that are keen to support the Organization so that it can continue to pursue its mandate in optimum conditions and to achieve the desired goals in collaboration with Arab National Commissions. He also commended the role of the Host Country’s President, Government and people for the facilities provided to ALECSO to enable it to perform its tasks in the best possible conditions.
The Director-General reviewed the Organization’s future lines of action and the associated challenges, including coping with the persistent COVID-19 crisis, which requires the implementation of activities and programs in face-to-face or remote format. He also highlighted the two main strategic projects that the Organization is currently working on, namely “ALECSO’s Strategic Plan 2023-2028” and the “Arab Plan for Education in Times of Emergency and Crisis”, with focus on the need to adopt e-learning and provide online educational platforms for countries that need such support.
The Director-General commended the positive cooperation with the General Secretariat of the League of Arab States, especially as regards the implementation of the Arab University Ranking project. He also highlighted the excellent partnership with UNESCO as well as the strategic partnerships established with many Arab and international organizations to promote the sharing of experience and expertise.
The main items on the agenda of the 115th session of the Executive Board include :
- Follow-up on the implementation of the resolutions of the 25th session of the General Conference;
- Follow-up on the implementation of the resolutions of the 113th session of the Executive Board;
- Draft Arab Plan for Education in Times of Emergency and Crisis;
- ALECSO’s Draft Strategic Plan 2023-2028;
- Approving the Organization’s final accounts and special funds for the financial year 2020 and the audit reports;
- The financial position of the Organization and the state of member States' contributions to the Organization's budget.
- Filling the position of Director of the Institute of Arabic Manuscripts.
