Under the patronage of H.E. Dr. Mohamed Ould Amar, Director-General of ALECSO, and H.E. Ms. Lolwah bint Rashid bin Mohammed Al Khater, Minister of Education and Higher Education of the State of Qatar, ALECSO concluded its 14th Conference of Arab Education Ministers, held in Doha on January 5-7, 2024, under the theme of “Inclusive Education and Teacher Empowerment: A Strategic Vision for Education in the Arab World”.
The Conference saw the participation of Arab Education Ministers, Ambassadors of several Arab countries, representatives from the Arab League General Secretariat and the UNESCO Regional Office of Quality and Excellence in Education, along with the heads of national, Arab, regional, and international organizations, centers, and institutions that are strategic partners of ALECSO.
The Conference concluded with the “Doha Declaration” which affirmed commitment to the key principles for the development of educational systems in the Arab world in pursuit of more equitable and prosperous societies. The Declaration underlined the importance of strengthening joint Arab action to implement the needed transformations in educational systems.
The Declaration called for developing national policies to promote inclusive education, as well as for combining national and regional efforts to guarantee the continuity of education during emergencies and crises. It stressed the importance of developing plans for continuous teacher training and skill development, improving teachers’ economic and social conditions, investing in the technological infrastructure needed for digital education, and working to reduce the digital divide. It also called for establishing special programs to support education in emergency situations through innovative solutions ensuring the continuity of the learning process.
The Declaration underscored the need to foster cooperation among Arab countries, forge partnerships with regional and international institutions in order to learn from successful experiences, increase financial allocations for the education sector, and ensure the sustainability of educational projects designed to promote inclusive education. It called for supporting scientific research in the field of education, developing comprehensive evaluation systems to improve the quality and outcomes of education, aligning education curricula with current job market needs, and promoting creativity and innovation.
The Declaration also called for enhancing classroom and extracurricular programs toward instilling the values of citizenship, tolerance, national belonging, and Arab identity, in addition to strengthening the teaching of arts in general education to develop students’ personalities, refine their talents, and enhance their creative skills.
In his closing remarks, H.E. Dr. Mohamed Ould Amar, Director-General of ALECSO, highlighted the importance of the topics discussed by the Conference amidst the current challenges facing education in the Arab world. Foremost among these topics are the promotion of inclusive education and the empowerment of teachers to meet learner needs in changing educational environments. He insisted that the success of education is closely linked to empowering teachers and equipping them with the needed knowledge and tools.
The Director-General reiterated his thanks and gratitude to the State of Qatar for the generous hosting and excellent organization of the Conference. He stressed that Qatar has always played a flagship role in serving education and development issues in the Arab world. He extended thanks to the Ministers and delegations for their commitment to improving educational systems and building a better future for the coming generations, and indicated that ALECSO stands fully ready to support all Arab efforts aimed at enhancing education and improving its quality. He also commended the presence of international organizations and federations that supported the Conference, considering this cooperation a key step towards achieving the sustainable development goals related to education.
At the end of the Conference, ALECSO’s “Excellence in Education Awards” were granted to the Education Ministers and Heads of Delegations. Additionally, it was announced that Libya will host the 15th Conference of Arab Education Ministers.
