Salalah: The Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization (ALECSO) is holding its first regional forum on education, culture, and science in the Wilayat of Salalah, Governorate of Dhofar. The 3-day forum is organized by the Ministry of Education, represented by the Oman National Commission for Education, Culture, and Sciences. The event is taking place at the Sultan Qaboos Youth Compound for Culture and Entertainment, with the participation of experts and specialists from GCC states.
According to Oman News Agency, the opening ceremony was held under the auspices of Dr. Ahmed Mohsen Al Ghassani, Chairman of Dhofar Municipality. Dr. Humaid Saif Al Nofali, ALECSO’s Director of Culture, delivered a speech emphasizing that the forum embodies the directives of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). He noted that the forum highlights ALECSO’s role in integrating culture and arts into the education system, which is vital for developing societies, consolidating identity, and promoting values of understanding and coexistence.
Badr Suleiman Al Harthy, Assistant Secretary of Oman National Commission for Education, Culture, and Science, stated that the forum aims to strengthen frameworks for ‘cultural and arts education’ within the educational systems of GCC states. It also encourages the development of innovation and talents and supports values ??of cooperation and belonging.
The first day of the forum included an introduction to the ‘UNESCO Framework for Education in Culture and Arts’, along with ALECSO’s Framework for Education in Culture and the Arts. The sessions addressed the governance of cultural policies, the role of technology and artificial intelligence (AI) in this field, and mechanisms for integrating cultural and artistic education into educational programmes. The role of museums in expanding the scopes of education was also discussed.
The first day concluded with a dialogue session titled “Guides for Activating the Role of Education in Promoting Culture and the Arts”. The session provided a review of reference guides for school theatre, music education, and visual arts education.