RIYADH: The Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization has adopted a series of Saudi-backed initiatives aimed at strengthening governance, improving institutional performance and expanding educational and cultural cooperation across the Arab world.
The proposals were agreed at the end of its 28th General Conference in Muscat on Thursday, which marked the end of Saudi Arabia’s two-year presidency. Oman will now take up the mantle.
Among the proposals were recommendations made by a Saudi-led committee, with representatives from 12 member states, to reform the conference’s rules of procedure, establish a general conference bureau and create three committees to oversee preparations, legal affairs and strategies and action plans.
The conference also approved the reinstatement of an assistant director-general position, with Kuwait’s Dr. Tareq Al-Ghareeb elected to the post that had been abolished in 2019.
The conference also approved financial support for five Arab countries affected by conflicts, crises and emergencies.
Under a Saudi-backed initiative, Alecso will allocate $100,000 a year each to Syria, Sudan, Lebanon, Libya and Yemen to support educational, cultural and scientific programs during the 2027-28 financial cycle. It also signed cooperation agreements with the five countries to facilitate the implementation of projects addressing their educational and cultural needs.
The conference followed the conclusion of the Kingdom’s five-year presidency of Alecso’s Executive Council.
