Disclaimer: You are using Google Translate. The ICESCO is not responsible for the accuracy of the information in the translated language .

your opinion

User Feedback

Overall, how satisfied are you about the website?

    Extremely Dissatisfied Extremely Satisfied

    Category: News update

    News

    ICESCO announces a new programme for skills and knowledge development in the field of Arabic language for non-Arabic speakers

    Posted on by MOHAMED.AQEIL

    As part of “ICESCO Digital Home,” the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) launches a new educational programme for knowledge and skills development, entitled “Zidni ‘Ilman” within the framework of the initiatives of ICESCO Center of Arabic Language for non-Arabic Speakers. The programme comprises two parts: an educational part devoted to national teachers, counselors and experts working in the field of Arabic Language for non-Arabic Speakers; and another part dedicated to knowledge and language open to students of Arabic speaking other languages from all around the globe.

    Through an online form provided on the link: https://survey.icesco.org/index.php/193712?lang=ar
    ICESCO will allow in the first phase of “Zidni ‘Ilman” programme, national teachers, counselors, and experts to address their questions to a host of senior specialized experts cooperating with ICESCO. Afterward, the experts will answer the questions through a series of videos that will be posted on ICESCO’s website, YouTube channel, and Facebook page.

    Among the main objectives that ICESCO aims to achieve through this program, is to provide distance educational programme that meets teachers’ concerns and needs; update, renew and develop the educational materials for the teachers of Arabic language for non-Arabic speakers; establish communication channels between students from different races and cultures, and senior specialists of teaching Arabic language; foster the culture of debate, dialogue and cooperative learning for students of Arabic language; develop their sense of inquiry and research; and provide knowledge, educational and linguistic reference for frequent questions in the field of Arabic language for non-Arabic speakers.

    This programme is an enrichment to ICESCO’s previous contributions in providing educational, cultural and scientific alternatives throughout the lockdown period, and a contribution to building the bridges of sustained educational and scientific communication in the field of Arabic language for non-Arabic speakers between scientists, experts, educational staffs, and students. It also mirrors ICESCO’s commitment to meet the needs of the teachers of Arabic language for non-Arabic speakers by developing their educational capacities and providing distance educational guidance to make up for face-to-face training during the lockdown, meet the needs of students speaking other languages in terms of continuous development of research and thinking capacities, raise constructive questions, and enhance and enrich their linguistic skills and knowledge.

    It is worth mentioning that ICESCO, through the Center of Arabic language for non-Arabic Speakers, launched in April and May an initiative entitled “Learn Arabic, Master it at Home”, “Bayan” award for creative expression in Arabic language, and “Languages of Africa, Bridges of Culture and History” in the field of writing the African languages in the standardized Arabic script. All details on the link:
    http://www.icesco.org/?p=22785

    Contents of King Fahd National Library made available at ICESCO Digital Home

    Posted on by MOHAMED.AQEIL

    The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) and King Fahd National Library at the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia agreed to giving access to the digital contents of the Library within ICESCO Digital Home, as part of the Distance Culture Initiative. This agreement comes as part of the endeavors of both the Organization and the Library to support the efforts of the global community to mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in the fields of education, science, and culture.

    Against this backdrop, ICESCO Digital Home visitors can access hundreds of thousands of the Library’s references including digital books, Arab and foreign online databases, periodicals and academic dissertations. Visitors can also download hundreds of books for free through the following link:
    https://www.icesco.org/%d8%aa%d8%ab%d9%82%d9%81-%d8%b9%d9%86-%d8%a8%d8%b9%d8%af/

    Such cooperation between the Organization and the Library is likely to contribute to enriching the digital intellectual contents of the Islamic world; and provide ICESCO Member States’ nationals with the opportunity to access the creative and knowledge production of intellectuals, authors and cultural figures from other countries inside and outside the Islamic world.

    The references of King Fahd National Library are added to the contents of ICESCO Digital Home, which also gives access to the rich digital contents of the Library of Alexandria, including books and manuscripts in more than 43 languages. Likewise, ICESCO Digital Home gives access to more than six million books and references from Sharjah Library in more than ten different languages; and the entire contents of the digital platform of the Mohameddian League of Scholars of the Kingdom of Morocco including Ar-Ra’id platform for spreading safe religious knowledge, guidebooks on dismantling extremist discourse, Science and Architecture Museum, the Museum of Science History, and the Mohameddian League of Scholars Portal.

    It is worth noting that King Fahd National Library aims to purchase, organize, regulate, document, publicize and publish intellectual production. The project to establish the Library was first announced in 1983 at the initiative of the people of Riyadh in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, to later on start the execution phase in 1986. The Library is a knowledge beacon for a wide audience of intellectuals as it contributes to enriching knowledge and literature contents at the local, regional and international levels.

    ICESCO Webinar: Use of information technology and AI key to improving education quality

    Posted on by MOHAMED.AQEIL

    Participants in the educational webinar held by the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), under the theme “Technology in Service of the Continuity of the Educational Process” called for joint actions among the ICESCO Member States to develop inclusive institutionalization of distance learning in regulatory and legislative frameworks. They also called for promoting research works and studies in the field of educational technology, establishing educational institutions on the gains of the technological revolution and prospects of the knowledge-based economy, and supporting the transition to becoming digital institutions.

    The webinar discussed the current situation on the use of technology and its prospects in education during and after the pandemic. It saw the participation of the respective Ministers of Education of Palestine and Côte d’Ivoire, ICESCO Director General, 20 educational professionals, university professors, and other experts in the field of education science and educational technology concerned with the continuity of the educational process during and after the pandemic in the ICESCO Member States.

    In his address at the webinar’s opening session, Dr. Marwan Awartani, Minister of Education of the State of Palestine, addressed the experiment of the development of the educational system in the State of Palestine, discussing the obstacles and challenges that faced the educational officials to ensure the continuity of the educational process during this pandemic. For her part, Dr. Kandia Camara, Minister of National Education, Technical Education and Vocational Training of Côte d’Ivoire, stated that despite the negative impact of the pandemic, it had been a good opportunity to support educational systems to address crises, disasters and states of emergency.

    Moreover, Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, ICESCO Director General, stated in his address that school curricula need urgent development through the use of information and communication technology in service of the continuity of the educational process. He also stressed the need to look for effective tools to link education with artificial intelligence, which advanced tremendously in term of its techniques, underscoring that technological advancement will be a major step towards developing education and will lead the way to improve the quality of education in a way that achieves Sustainable Development Goal 4, “Ensure inclusive and equitable quality.”
    The webinar’s first session discussed the theme “E-learning: opportunities and challenges during and after COVID-19”. Speakers during this session included Dr. Majed Abdullah Alosaimi, General Director of Manarat Al-Fikr International Foundation for Humanities and Social Sciences, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, who talked about the topic “COVID-19 crisis and the school of the future: from theory to practice”; and Dr. Assaad Mahmoud El Sahmarani, Professor at Al-Imam Al-Ouzai University, Expert in education from the Republic of Lebanon, who addressed the issue of “E-learning and how to make it attractive to students.”

    Moreover, Dr. Boutaina El Ghalbzouri, Professor at the Faculty of Letters and Humanities in Kingdom of Morocco, discussed the advantages of distance e-learning in university in comparison to conventional education. For his part, Dr. Rachid Albakali, Professor of curricula and teaching in the Kingdom of Morocco, talked about some of the Arab world’s leading experiences in e-learning, which has become in need of institutionalization in all its aspects through re-drafting a new curriculum and training teachers. At the same time, Dr. Radouane Rhenimi, Professor at Ibn Zohr University, Kingdom of Morocco, reaffirmed the need to work on achieving meaningful distance education capable of scoring positive outcomes.

    The second session discussed the theme, “Post-COVID-19 world: fast transition to the digital school”, during which Dr. Khalid Samadi, Ex-Secretary of State in Charge of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Kingdom of Morocco, called for looking at the current global situation as an opportunity to foresee the future rather than a crisis and reflect on the major changes witnessed by the educational systems. In the same vein, Dr. Abdellatif Kidai, Dean of the Faculty of Education Sciences, Rabat, Kingdom of Morocco, stated that the University of the Future contributes to building a knowledge-based economy because it nurtures innovation in a way that helps to integrate into the AI society.

    Furthermore, Dr. Ahmed Ouzzi, Professor of Psychology at Mohammed V University, stated that educational systems need a comprehensive upgrade that is mindful of the changes and challenges of the future. Discussing the same theme, Dr. Abdelrhani Moundib, Professor at Mohammed V University, Rabat, Kingdom of Morocco, maintained that we need major changes but be aware of the implications revamping the educational system; while Dr. Mohammed Derrij, Professor of education science at Mohammed V University, Rabat, Kingdom of Morocco, presented the rotation model as an offshoot from the idea of distance attendance that combines virtual education and face-to-face learning in classes.
    The webinar concluded with several recommendations, including intensifying meetings, coordinating with the competent parties in the ICESCO Member States, and taking advantage of societies’ timely awareness due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Also, preparing integrated rehabilitation programmes for educational professionals to achieve concrete change in teaching methods and tools and building new models and processes for school assessment.
    The webinar saw wide views through its live broadcasting on ICESCO’s Facebook page. The full webinar is available on the following link: https://www.facebook.com/ICESCO.Ar/videos/1630702797104720/

    ICESCO Director-General reaffirms the importance of curricula development to fit schools of the future

    Posted on by MOHAMED.AQEIL

    Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), reaffirmed that the post-COVID-19 world requires us to anticipate the future of education and prepare for addressing the challenges of the upcoming period. The Director-General explained that such a goal could be achieved through the development of innovative curricula, alternative educational programmes to expeditiously make the transition towards the future digital school, adding that the traditional school will definitely change and will be replaced by the future virtual schools.

    Dr. AlMalik’s highlighted this issue in his address at the Extraordinary Virtual Meeting of the General Conference of the Ministers of Education of the Member States of the Arab Bureau of Education for Gulf States (ABEGS), held today under the presidency of the Sultanate of Oman. The Conference’s agenda featured many topics on education and Member States’ efforts to mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the educational process.

    In the same vein, Dr. AlMalik stated that the enormous investments in distance education would not be the magic wand that achieves all the desired outcomes. He maintained that advancing this field entails overcoming the many obstacles to its efficiency, most notably the weak educational data collection system and the slowdown in students’ progress o the official curricula. “The abrupt closure of the educational institutions did not leave enough time to prepare any appropriate transition strategies to adopt to distance education,” the Director-General stated. Moreover, Dr. AlMalik underscored that the current curricula are incompatible with this exigent phase and are in dire need of an upgrade, saying that countries should pay due attention to school wastage, which has mostly deteriorated as a result of the closure of the educational institutions.

    Likewise, ICESCO Director-General said that, during the crisis, the Organization provided support to its Member States most affected by the pandemic by identifying its impact on the educational systems and intervening according to criteria and participatory approach. “Aware of the likelihood of the persistence of the pandemic and the risk of a second spike of the virus, particularly in the most affected countries, ICESCO continues to be vigilant of any emergency undermining the right to education in these countries,” he maintained. Along this line, the Director-General stated that the Organization prepared a comprehensive guide on the reopening of educational institutions, which provides practical recommendations and field mechanisms to ensure a safe and stable return to schools.

    Furthermore, Dr. AlMalik stated that to prepare for education’s future, ICESCO launched an initiative to standardize the curricula of sciences and mathematics in the Islamic world, which was welcomed by the Conference’s participants. He added that ICESCO is also developing a strategy to integrate Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the fields of education and will present two studies at the virtual symposium it will hold on 18 June 2020. “The first study will be on the use of AI in education while the second study focuses on its ethics and regulations,” he further explained.

    In closing, Dr. AlMalik called for increasing scientific research’s share in the national output to reach 3% in Muslim countries, which will promote these countries’ efforts towards leadership and excellence.

    ICESCO and FIFA pay tribute to humanity’s heroes

    Posted on by MOHAMED.AQEIL

    In recognition of the efforts of healthcare workers around the globe who stand on the frontline to shield human societies from the COVID-19 pandemic, the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) and the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) have launched a video where former and current football players express their thanks and appreciation to healthcare workers for their outstanding work.

    In this unique video appearance, male and female famous world football stars, including Pelé, Diego Maradona, Ronaldo, David Beckham, Kaká, Marta, Marco van Basten, Zinédine Zidane, Park Ji-sung, Yaya Touré, Lucy Bronze, Samuel Eto’o, Fabio Cannavaro and many others are warmly applauding healthcare workers in recognition of their work to help citizens and for their sacrifices to stem the risks of COVID-19 spread.

    In parallel with the applause, a brief caption expresses gratitude and appreciation to all healthcare workers and professionals who work like #HumanitysHeroes.

    It is worth noting that, since the beginning of COVID-19 pandemic, ICESCO has launched several practical initiatives, programmes, and projects to support the global anti-COVID-19 efforts and help the Member States overcome its adverse repercussions. The Organization’s effort culminated with the launch of the “Comprehensive Humanitarian Coalition” initiative to help poor and most affected countries by implementing practical projects and field programmes..

    The Coalition was widely welcomed by many countries, international organizations, and specialized institutions and authorities, including FIFA. The final declaration of the Extraordinary Virtual Conference of Education Ministers of ICESCO Member States, held on 14 May 2020 with the participation of 43 Member States and 12 international organizations under the theme “Education systems in the face of crises and emergencies (COVID-19)”, reaffirmed its support to the Coalition and called on countries and governmental and non-governmental organizations, donors and the private sector to contribute to its success.

    ICESCO holds a webinar to support the continuity of the educational process

    Posted on by MOHAMED.AQEIL

    The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) will hold an educational webinar, next Wednesday 10 June 2020, under the theme “Technology in Service of the Continuity of the Educational Process”.

    The webinar, which starts at 12:00 (Rabat local time), will explore the current situation of the use of technology and its prospects in education during and after the pandemic.

    Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, ICESCO Director General, will give an address during the opening session of the webinar which gathers 20 education officials, including the ministers of education of Palestine and Burkina Faso, university teachers, experts in the field of education science and technology, and civil society educators concerned with the continuity of the educational process during and after Covid-19 pandemic in Member States.

    The webinar aims to give in-depth understanding of the realities of technology use to sustain the educational process, raise awareness of the importance of digital knowledge and its mainstreaming, exchange experiences in harnessing and promoting educational technology, and devise a practical concept to enhance the role of digital technology in the continuity of the education in the pandemic era.

    The webinar is part of ICESCO’s continued action to support the efforts geared towards countering Covid-19 pandemic and facing its negative effects on the fields of education, science and culture.
    You can follow the webinar via the link below: https://www.facebook.com/ICESCO.Ar/live

    On the World Environment Day, ICESCO calls for joint action to preserve biological diversity

    Posted on by MOHAMED.AQEIL

    This year we are celebrating the “World Environment Day” under exceptional circumstances, which have brought significant changes in the relationship between man and nature in terms of survival and recovery.

    Despite its disastrous impacts on many sectors, the Coronavirus imposed biological rest for the benefit of ecosystems on land, sea, and air. Positive indicators have been monitored for improving air quality, the expansion of wildlife on the outskirts of cities, and the natural habitats of animals. We may ask, will this new situation lead the international community to reevaluate the concepts and goals of sustainable development and their relevance to nature?.

    ICESCO reaffirms its support to the states and governments, environmental organizations, entrepreneurs, and scientists in their environmental action programs and believes that the human race will face extinction if it refuses to be bound by them to preserve nature. On this day, ICESCO calls for adopting the proposal for a joint environmental action based on lessons learned from the Coronavirus crisis, especially those related to preserving ecological diversity and its balance in the various ecosystems in forests, seas, agricultural systems, environmental tourism, urban environment, and others, and emphasizes the following:

    -Biodiversity is the safety valve for both the health and development environment and must have the required place in joint environmental action programs.

    -The life of the human race depends on stable and healthy ecosystems, and urgent action is required to put the world on the right path to a more sustainable future.

    -There is a need to raise the profile of nature-based solutions in environmental governance, climate action, and developing policy tools.

    -There is a need for anticipating the environmental and developmental ramifications of the depletion of natural resources to avoid crises for future generations.

    The world continues to witness thousands of deaths due to Coronavirus. The place where World Climate Summit COP25 was hosted in December 2019 is now turned into the largest field hospital in Europe. But despite these contemporary crises, we have great hope in the providence and mercy of Allah (SWT). Our hope lies in the concerted efforts of peoples and our joint action within and outside our Islamic world. We hope for genuine quality initiatives to protect and preserve the environment and to continuously contribute to safeguarding the mother earth that we call home.

    Treasures of Bibliotheca Alexandrina available at “ICESCO Digital Home”

    Posted on by MOHAMED.AQEIL

    In line with the initiatives of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) in supporting the efforts to reduce the effects of Covid-19 pandemic on education, science, and culture, an agreement was concluded with Bibliotheca Alexandrina, one of the largest and oldest libraries worldwide, to provide access to its treasure troves of knowledge through “ICESCO Digital Home,” within the framework of the initiative of “Distance Culture,” via the link below:
    https://www.icesco.org/%d8%aa%d8%ab%d9%82%d9%81-%d8%b9%d9%86-%d8%a8%d8%b9%d8%af/

    The treasures of Bibliotheca Alexandrina, hosted by “ICESCO Digital Home,” include four key elements:
    1- The Digital Assets Repository (DAR), which was developed by the International School of Information Science (ISIS) at Bibliotheca Alexandrina. It archives all types of media, including books, slides, movies, maps, and audiovisual materials. It also includes the most extensive Arabic book collection providing various viewing options, keyword search or expression, tagging, sharing books on other social networks, rating books, and interacting with other users through submitting comments.
    2- Wellcome Arabic Manuscripts Online, which provides access, for the first time, to the largest collection of manuscript books and fragments on the history of medicine with high-quality digital image online along with associated rich metadata. It is part of the Asian Wellcome Library, which comprises 12 thousand manuscripts and 4 thousand printed books in 43 different languages.
    3- Egyptian Press Archive, which archives 40 years of the Egyptian press production in various fields in Arabic, English, and French. It includes half a million journalistic articles, written by 17 thousand writers and journalistic correspondents on 30 different themes and published by 170 publishing houses, newspapers, periodicals, and magazines.
    4- Digital Archive of the Egyptian Stamps, which includes 2300 postal stamps published by the Egyptian Post from 1866 to present times. It includes various kinds of stamps, such as regular mail, official mail, airmail, and commemorative stamps, which were published in special occasions and cover a large number of significant events in the history of Egypt and the world. Each stamp includes detailed information about its publishing date and occasion, and its full description.

    This unique cooperation between ICESCO and Bibliotheca Alexandrina is the supreme effort of the two parties to sustain the cultural activity during Covid-19 pandemic. It provides the public with digital knowledge sources amid the closure of the cultural institutions and bodies to halt the spread of the virus and anticipate and support the future of digital culture.

    It is worth mentioning that “ICESCO Digital Home” provides access throughout the lockdown period over 6 million e-books and online knowledge sources from Sharjah Library open to the public in more than ten different languages. “ICESCO Digital Home” also provides access to all the contents of the digital platform of the Mohammadia League of Scholars, in the Kingdom of Morocco, including Raed Platform for the dissemination of safe religious knowledge, Books of the deconstruction of extremist discourse, Museum of Science and Urbanism, Museum of Science History, and Portal of Mohammadia League of Scholars.

    ICESCO Director-General explores cooperation prospects with Grand mufti of Azerbaijan and Caucasus

    Posted on by MOHAMED.AQEIL

    Today, the Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, met with the Grand mufti of Azerbaijan and Caucasus, Mr. Allahshükür Pashazade via videoconferencing. Together they explored prospects of cooperation between ICESCO and the Spiritual Administration of Muslims of the Caucasus.

    At the outset, Dr. AlMalik thanked the Grand Mufti for hosting the meeting, requesting him to convey his greetings to His Excellency, the President of Azerbaijan, Mr. Ilham Aliyev, and Mrs. Mehriban Aliyev, First Vice President and First Lady of Azerbaijan, and President of Heydar Aliyev Foundation.

    Moreover, the Director-General reviewed the major projects and initiatives launched by the Organization, as part of its new strategic vision, including the Comprehensive Humanitarian Coalition. Dr. AlMalik underscored that this Coalition aims to support developing countries as well as the countries most affected by the COVID-19 pandemic through the implementation of concrete projects and field programmes, noting that the Republic of Azerbaijan joined the Coalition and supported it financially.

    Likewise, Dr. AlMalik talked about ICESCO’s efforts to open up to non-Member States, noting that the Organization drafted a new Charter including new regulations for ICESCO Observer Status and invites all states to become Observer States with the goal of more cooperation in the fields of education, science, culture, and communication.

    For his part, Mr. Allahshükür Pashazade commended ICESCO’s initiatives in the area of dialogue and cultural diversity, as well as its efforts to spread the values of moderation, middle stance, and coexistence; keenness to support Islamic solidarity, and sustained interest in support for cultural heritage in the Islamic world.

    The President of the Spiritual Administration for the Muslims of the Caucasus reaffirmed the interest and desire of the Republic of Azerbaijan and its specialized institutions in supporting and promoting cooperation with ICESCO, reiterating his Administration’s keenness to work on achieving the noble goals sought by the two parties.
    Moreover, Mr. Allahshükür Pashazade invited Dr. AlMalik to visit Azerbaijan and sign a cooperation programme between ICESCO and the Spiritual Administration for the Muslims of the Caucasus, an invitation that ICESCO Director-General welcomed, promising to visit Azerbaijan at the earliest convenience.

    The two parties also agreed on coordinating to hold a high-level virtual meeting for leaders of religious institutions to explore ways to promote cooperation, coordination, and consultation, and to hold later an international conference on anchoring the values of peace, tolerance, and coexistence.

    ICESCO addresses African communities in their local languages to raise awareness about the dangers of the new Coronavirus

    Posted on by MOHAMED.AQEIL

    As part of the program “Languages of Africa, Bridges of Culture and History” previously launched by the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), the Organization posted, on its YouTube channel, website and social media accounts, a video in the Hausa, Swahili, Mandingo, Fulani, Wolof, Fur, and Nubian languages to address the broader public in the Sub-Saharan countries as a contribution to raising their awareness through their local languages about the methods of protection from Covid-19 and ways to halt its spread. The effort falls within the framework of “ICESCO Digital Home” initiative supporting the Member States, especially the neediest countries most exposed to the risks of the current world health crisis triggered by Covid-19.

    As part of the same initiative, ICESCO posted in May on its website several infographics in the abovementioned languages to ensure health education and raise preventive awareness. These infographics are downloadable to provide universal access to it. These materials can be found through the link:
    https://www.icesco.org/%d9%84%d8%ba%d8%a7%d8%aa-%d8%a5%d9%81%d8%b1%d9%8a%d9%82%d9%8a%d8%a7-%d8%ac%d8%b3%d9%88%d8%b1-%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%ab%d9%82%d8%a7%d9%81%d8%a9-%d9%88%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%aa%d8%a7%d8%b1%d9%8a%d8%ae/

    Through this awareness-raising video in the local languages of the African communities, ICESCO aims to highlight the crucial role of the local languages of the Sub-Saharan African peoples in disseminating basic knowledge and facilitate awareness and guidance for all social groups. It also seeks to add further efficiency to the programmes of health information and prevention education in Africa, ensure their dissemination to various social groups, promote the cultural, social and educational roles of the African languages, and keep these languages up-to-date with the information technology and benefit from digital publishing through the internet and social media.

    It is worth mentioning that “Languages of Africa, Bridges of Culture and History” falls within a joint project with the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) to use the Arabic script in writing the languages of the Muslim communities in Africa. It consisted of educational, scientific, cultural and awareness-raising aspects and includes three ambitious programmes, in cooperation with the International University of Africa in the Republic of the Sudan (Yusuf Al Khalifa Center for Writing Languages in the Arabic Script), including a programme for computerizing the African languages by designing computer keyboards of fifteen languages and developing specialized software for the automated Arabic script. The second programme aims to improve the writing system of the African languages in the Arabic script by providing educational tools and materials, organizing training sessions for experts on the Arabic script, and preparing reading materials and teacher’s guide and educational media. The third programme aims to establish academic chairs on Arabic script.