News & Event

The first ALECSO Regional Forum for Culture and Arts Education resulted in the "Salalah Declaration" and a number of recommendations, the most important of which are: preparing and updating comprehensive national policies and programs for culture and arts education, with technical support from ALECSO and specialized experts, reflecting the specificities of each country; integrating culture, arts, and heritage into educational curricula in an integrated and interactive manner, which enhances the learning experience and stimulates creative thinking.

Amongst the most important recommendations also are developing ongoing qualification and training programs for teachers and educators in the fields of culture and arts, establishing an Arab Observatory for Culture and Arts Education under ALECSO supervision to monitor experiences and practices and exchange expertise between Arab countries, and launching joint Arab creative programs for youth to enhance cultural and artistic communication between Arab generations. The closing ceremony of the forum also witnessed the presentation of a number of reference documents prepared by ALECSO's technical team, including Reference Guide for School Theater, Reference Guide for Music Education, and Reference Guide for Fine Arts Education.

This came at the conclusion of the two-day forum, which was organized by the Omani National Commission for Education, Culture and Science in cooperation with the Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization (ALECSO). Experts and educators in the field of education, culture, and arts from ALECSO and the Gulf Cooperation Council countries participated in the forum, which included 13 working papers on ways to develop culture and arts in the Arab world. On the final day of the forum, participants also visited the Frankincense Land Museum in Al Baleed and the Razat Royal Farm in Dhofar Governorate, where they learned about the Omani experience in integrating cultural heritage with technical education.

In his closing remarks, Badr bin Sulaiman Al Harthy, Assistant Secretary of the Omani National Commission for Education, Culture and Science, emphasized that this forum represents a qualitative shift in joint Arab action towards enhancing the status of culture and art and integrating it into educational systems. He added that there is ongoing cooperation between the Omani National Commission for Education, Culture and Science and education in implementing initiatives and programs in the education and culture sectors, and that organizations can be utilized to advance culture and art from an educational perspective. He pointed out that the recommendations resulting from this forum will be submitted to the Arab Ministers of Education and Culture for study and the development of mechanisms for their implementation.

For his part, Professor Rami Iskandar, Director of the Education Department at ALECSO, praised the organization of the forum, stressing that it is the first in the Gulf States, and its outcomes represent a historic milestone in the path of consolidating culture, arts, modern education, and comprehensive development in the Arab world. The forum included qualitative dialogues, forward-looking visions, and the recommendations of the Salalah Declaration, which constitutes a reference document that contributes to establishing educational and cultural policies that enhance integration between thought and creativity. This reflects the importance of education in culture and arts, which is no longer a complementary option, but rather a strategic necessity for preserving identity, promoting the values ​​of citizenship, and building generations capable of interacting positively with the challenges of the era. ALECSO is also committed to continuing to work with Arab countries to translate this vision into practical programs and initiatives that contribute to making culture and arts supportive of sustainable development and Arab cultural diversity.