13 million Arab children forced to leave schools: ALECSO

In some Arab countries living under bad circumstances, over 13 millions of children have to leave schools or have been barred from school, said an Arab organ head here Tuesday.

the Director General of the Arab Organization for Education, Culture and Science (ALECSO) Abdullah Hamad Muhareb expressed his anxiety in press conference held in Tunis.

"That's why the Organization has launched an initiative in favor of the education of children in conflict zones in the Arab world," assured the head of ALECSO.

"Arab, regional and international cooperation benefit from an important status in the ALECSO action. We are committed to set up strategic partnerships, realize the targeted programs and extend our efforts to education, culture, sciences and communication."

Among the objectives expected by the new ALECSO Strategic Plan 2017-2022 are: poverty reduction, the guarantee of sustainable education for all and the provision of greater access to education for women and girls.

But these projects and the Organization activities are dependent on the contribution of States and the payment of their share in the budget of the Organization, pointed Muhareb.

"Unfortunately," he regretted, "the Organization is still suffering from the lack of diligence shown by some member States."

Admitting the existence of some "anomalies" threatening the survival of the education system in the Arab world, the director of the ALECSO education department, Mohamed Madbouli, told Xinhua that "education and teaching constitute the last refuge to preserve the identity and the heritage of the Arab world."

"Sustainable development and education survival are two unavoidable challenges," he added. Endit