Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), received Dr. Marwan Awartani, the Palestinian Minister of Education, to explore ways to strengthen the existing partnership between ICESCO and the State of Palestine in the field of education, capacities building of education professionals and foresight.

At the outset of the meeting, which took place on Monday, May 29, 2023, at ICESCO Headquarters in Rabat, in the presence of Dr. Dawas Dawas, Secretary General of the Palestinian National Commission for Education, Culture and Science, Chairman of ICESCO Executive Council, and Ambassador Jamal Al-Shobaki, Ambassador of the State of Palestine to the Kingdom of Morocco, Dr. AlMalik reaffirmed the Organization’s eagerness and relentless endeavor to support the educational sector in Palestine through many programs and projects aimed at developing educational institutions and providing the necessary tools and means for the success of the educational process and ensuring its continuity, in coordination with the Palestinian National Commission for Education, Culture and Science.

He explained that ICESCO, under its new vision and strategic orientations, adopts a new communication approach with the authorities in its Member States to identify their orientations and needs and design tailor-cut programs and projects for each country, noting that the Organization accords special importance to building the capabilities of youth and women in various fields.

For his part, Dr. Awartani commended ICESCO’s roles, stressing the Education Ministry’s keenness to build further fruitful cooperation with the Organization, mainly the signing of a framework agreement for capacity-building of teaching professionals and training some of the Ministry’s officials at ICESCO Headquarters.

The meeting touched upon reviewing ICESCO’s key initiatives, programs and projects to serve its Member States and Muslim communities around the world in its fields of competence, with a focus on encouraging investment in space science and artificial intelligence applications, supporting entrepreneurship in the field of technology and innovation, promoting a culture of foresight and foresight studies and developing youth skills to keep pace with tomorrow’s jobs.

The Palestinian Minister of Education expressed his desire for the Palestinian youth to participate in all of ICESCO’s initiatives and programs, and ICESCO’s Director General welcomed their participation.

At the close of the meeting, Dr. AlMalik presented a memorial shield to Dr. Awartani, in appreciation of his efforts in the field of education.