Rabat (UNA-OIC) – The 41st session of the Executive Council of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) kicked off on Tuesday via videoconference for the first time in the ICESCO’s history, in the presence of the Council members and representatives of Member States’ National Commissions.
The opening session started with the address of ICESCO Director-General Dr. Salim Mohammed AlMalik, who reaffirmed that despite all the challenges humanity has faced during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Organization has endeavored to turn the pandemic from a crisis into an advantage. He emphasized that ICESCO managed to score many achievements thanks to Allah Almighty and the efforts and dedication of the Organization’s leadership, experts and staff.
The Director-General highlighted the role of the Executive Council in shaping the future of ICESCO and elevating its international status as an organization with a mission to serve. He clarified that ICESCO is aspiring to sustain working with the Executive Council members so that each member would serve as a counselor, with whom the Organization can share ideas and opinions and discuss projects and programs.
AlMalik commended the Member States that always pay their contributions to ICESCO’s budget on a timely basis. He pointed out that payment of contributions enables ICESCO to achieve its objectives and goals in such a manner as to assume an outstanding position among other organizations and manage to meet the needs of the member countries.
In Jordan’s address to the Council, mention was made of the enormous repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic on education.
The address was delivered by Secretary-General for Educational Affairs at Jordan’s Ministry of Education Dr. Nawwaf Al-Ajarmeh, Acting President of the Executive Council, on behalf of Jordanian Minister of Education, Higher Education and Scientific Research Dr. Muhammad Khair Abu Qudeis, who also serves as the President of the Jordanian National Commission for Education, Culture and Science.
Also in the address, Jordan called on ICESCO to assist Member States in developing their educational systems, train teachers on ICT use. It also lauded the roles that the Organization discharged in the field of civilizational dialogue and its areas of action.
At the close of the opening session, President of the 13th Session of the General Conference of ICESCO Dr. Ali Zeidan Abu Zuhri touched on the practical response of the Organization to the various challenges through its major achievements and leading initiatives that allowed ICESCO to meet the expectations of its Member States.
Abu Zuhri noted that the pandemic was a decisive test for ICESCO, which successfully worked together with its Member States to address the adverse repercussions of the pandemic. He also stated that great challenges that need concerted efforts and a strong teamwork spirit.
He further expressed his hope that ICESCO would remain the beacon of civilizational outreach in its areas of competence and called on National Commissions to sustain communication through the interactive platform, set up by ICESCO as a unique initiative.
Shortly after the opening session, the proceedings of the first session of the 41st Executive Council commenced. Over two days, this session will review the reports on the ICESCO activities for 2019-2020, several strategic documents and the projects the Organization intends to implement in the upcoming years.
