The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) and the International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO) launched, on Monday, 5 October 2026, a joint project to develop ICESCO’s School Teachers and Leaders Standards and Practice Instrument. The project aims to provide an evidence-based framework for advancing educational performance while taking into account the diversity of educational, cultural and institutional contexts across the Islamic world.
The launch took place during a ceremony organized by ICESCO at its headquarters in Rabat to mark World Teachers’ Day. Officials, experts and representatives of national and international institutions discussed the role of teachers and school leaders in improving the quality of education and building education systems capable of meeting future needs.
The event began with a recitation of verses from the Holy Quran, followed by opening remarks by Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, ICESCO Director-General, delivered on his behalf by Dr. Abdelilah Benarafa, ICESCO Deputy Director-General. The remarks underscored the importance of elevating the standing of teachers and supporting school leaders in developing learning environments that foster sustained improvements in learning outcomes.
Dr. Benarafa explained that, through the project, the Organization seeks to establish a reference framework defining the knowledge, skills and practices underpinning effective teaching and sound school leadership. Member States will be able to draw on the framework in line with their priorities and needs, supporting the profession’s development and strengthening its impact across the education system.
In recorded remarks, Ziauddin Yousafzai, Co-Founder of the Malala Fund, father of Malala Yousafzai, the youngest Nobel Prize laureate, stated that great teachers inspire their students and transform their lives, encouraging them to learn, revisit prior knowledge and free themselves from misconceptions.
For his part, Mr. Karim Hamidouche, Secretary-General of the Moroccan National Commission for Education, Science and Culture, described teachers as the main drivers of any education reform. He noted that the impact of technology, curricula and infrastructure depends on teachers’ competence, passion, recognition and professional empowerment. He also highlighted the close cooperation between ICESCO and the Moroccan Ministry of Education through field projects and practical approaches that place teachers at the heart of educational transformation.
The event continued with a joint presentation by Mr. Waqas Afridi, Expert in ICESCO’s Education Sector; Ms. Pamela Bender, Global Head of Education Standards at IBO; and Mr. Marc Neesam, Education Systems Solutions Manager at IBO. The presentation outlined the new project’s objectives, phases and timeline, the interim findings of a comparative analysis of international and regional standards, the methodology for developing the instrument, and the project’s implementation steps.
Following this presentation, Dr. Ahmed Albanyan, Head of ICESCO’s Education Sector, Supervisor of the Translation and Publishing Center, moderated a panel discussion titled “Standards Transforming into Impact for Building a Future-Ready Teaching Profession.” Representatives of national, international and academic institutions explored ways to apply the standards within educational institutions, use them in teacher preparation, training and continuous professional development, and support school leadership.
The ceremony concluded with an interactive professional development workshop for nearly 30 teachers from Moroccan public schools, led by experts from ICESCO and the IBO. The workshop focused on connecting the teaching profession and professional policies with everyday educational practice and exploring the skills needed to keep pace with the rapid changes in education.
