The participants in the roundtable on
“Reimagining Youth Skills Post-Pandemic,” that the Islamic World Educational,
Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) and the United Nations Children’s
Fund (UNICEF) held, presented a set of ideas on ways to adapt educational
systems to the needs of young people, and the importance of reconciling
educational curricula with the skills necessary for addressing the changes and
challenges of the labor market. The meeting gathered several experts and
specialists yesterday Thursday, July 15, 2021, at ICESCO headquarters in Rabat.
In his speech, Dr. Salim Al-Malik,
ICESCO Director-General (DG), stressed that the Organization takes into account
the importance of building the capacities of young people and developing their creative
potentials to excel in their professional lives through holding a series of
training courses to provide them with the necessary tools to face future
challenges, enhance their proactive capabilities and contribute to the
sustainable development of their societies.
Dr. AlMalik added that ICESCO seeks
to support the countries of the Islamic world in all fields related to
education, science, and culture, especially in building the capacities of youth
and women, using artificial intelligence, and instilling the values of
dialogue and coexistence. He pointed out that the roundtable is a step towards
further cooperation with the UNICEF in protecting the rights of children and
young people to help them meet their needs and increase their opportunities to achieve
their aspirations.
Ms. Giovanna Barberis, UNICEF
Representative in Morocco, indicated that the global repercussions of the Covid
19 pandemic prompt us to act to enhance youth resilience. She stated that the
roundtable is an opportunity to listen to young people’s views and aspirations,
and review their skills and ways to develop them; and as such, it is a starting
point for a series of fruitful activities and meetings with ICESCO.
Then, Mr. Khalid Chenguiti, Education
Specialist at UNICEF, made a presentation on the impact of the COVID-19
pandemic on young people and their skills and indicated that in order to
develop them, there is a need to proceed with the implementation of a
methodological and comprehensive vision of education in the countries of the
Islamic world. Dr. Kais Hammami, Director of ICESCO’s Center for Strategic
Foresight, explained the importance of foresight for young people and gave an
overview of the work of the Center and its role in promoting a culture of
foresight in the countries of the Islamic world.
Mr. Ahmad Outizki, a
pedagogical inspector of Arabic at the Moroccan Ministry of Education,
emphasized that the “Maharati”
(My Skills) project has contributed to the improvement of young people’s skills
within the school, through the promotion of teachers’ pedagogical approaches.
For her part, the high school student Sabrine Amiziane reviewed her experience
in the program “UpShift” Morocco, as well as the methods used in her
workshops to develop skills other than those acquired at school. Ms. Oumaima
Fariq, the program coordinator at “Douar Tech”, touched upon the
importance of disseminating digital skills-focused programs among young people.
This roundtable also saw the
participation of Dr. Koumbou Barry, Head of the Education Sector at ICESCO, who
emphasized the important role of the family in the development of young
people’s capacities to become active actors and to contribute to bringing about
change within societies to facilitate their transition to professional life.
The roundtable concluded with a
discussion session during which participants shared their views and opinions.