Following the emergency video conference of the Ministers of Education of the ISESCO member states, called "Educational Systems in the Face of Crises and Emergencies ()" to address the challenges facing member states and finding fundamental solutions in this area an statement were releases.
The four-hour conference was held on Thursday, May 14, 2020 with the technical support of Saudi Arabia. Ministers from more than 50 countries were present and a number of international organizations attended the conference. Each of the ministers presented a report on the measures taken to educate students in the COVID-19 pandemic.
Iran also announced its readiness to provide free educational services like Shad application to all Islamic countries; the idea was welcomed by the attendees.
The full statement read as follows:
We, the Ministers of Education of the Islamic World, as well as members and chairmen of international and regional organizations participating in the video confrence of the Ministers of Education of the Member States of ISESCO; appreciate the educational, scientific and cultural organization of the Islamic world and His Excellency Director General Dr. Salem bin Mohammad Al-Malek to convene this meeting in the current health emergencies caused by spread of COVID-19 and its consequences, especially the abruption in education and the closure of facilities and institutions. We also announce the following statement:
1. We reiterate our support for the Vision of the Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization of the Islamic World, which guarantees the right to education as a fundamental human rights and ensures dignity, social justice and equality among learners.
2. We note the response of Member States to ensure the right of access to learning during the widespread disease of COVID-19. We also appreciate and learn from their relentless efforts to mitigate the impact of this global health crisis on educational activities. In addition, we call on the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization to prepare and compile a comprehensive document on the mechanisms and procedures implemented by the member states in order to reduce the impact of the widespread disease of COVID-19 in the field of education. The document also includes mechanisms for preventing future crises and emergencies.
3. We note the significant differences between Member States in reducing the impact of the widespread disease of COVID-19 on their educational systems. While some countries have overcome stagnation as they were prepared, other countries have faced serious material and technical challenges to ensure continued access to learning. Therefore, member states agree to use, as far as possible, their resources and skills for mutual support and interaction, cooperation and deeper communication to ensure the right of every child to education in the Islamic world, especially in emergencies and crises.
4. We pay attention to the plans of member states to reopen schools in the COVID-19 pandemic amid serious concerns about the second wave of the outbreak; We call for the coordination of efforts and ensuring the effectiveness of interventions and expert exchanges between member states under the supervision of the Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization of the Islamic World. We entrust the task of preparing instructions to this organization with the aim of raising awareness of the decision-making process regarding the safe reopening of schools.
5. We warmly welcome the pivotal role of artificial intelligence and its applications, in promoting educational systems on the one hand and implementing the principles of equitable quality education, equality and inclusiveness in emergencies and crises. We also committed to use material and technical capabilities as much as possible to reap the benefits of these smart programs in the education sector.
6. We believe in the importance of information and communication technology and provide options for ensuring the continuity of learning, especially in emergencies and crises. We are committed to providing educational resources and open data to all groups of students. We will also work to ensure that national regulations support the creation of public digital educational facilities and consider online courses as complementary.
7. We are committed to taking prompt action and providing effective practical solutions to the crisis to compensate for the educational damage in the Islamic world which has been exacerbated by the spread of COVID-19. Therefore, the quality of education and the principles of, inclusiveness and equality will be improved. It happens. We are committed to address the shortcomings of education in COVID-19 pandemic through national curricula, which are implemented shortly after the outbreak is contained. The aim of these programs, which are carried out in cooperation with civil society organizations, will be to reorganize the problem of dropped-out and provide scientific support to the graduated students.
8. We stress that the new features of educational systems and their technical and human needs, creating capacity through educational policies as well as job training programs and courses for all the members of educational system should be in line with the emerging approaches and creative roles of this system after COVID-19 pandemic is over. We call on the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization to prioritize these issues and to coordinate and consult with member states and international organizations to provide the necessary services, advices and expertise to achieve these goals.
9. We are aware of the huge negative effects of crises on women, girls, groups with special needs, refugees and people in rural and remote areas. Therefore, we are committed to adopt gender-sensitive approaches and reject all forms of discrimination against women, providing equal educational opportunities for all groups while planning strategies, action plans, and educational and learning budgets.
10. We are aware of the vital role of mathematics and science and the need to equip educational systems and provide students the opportunity to compete in international evaluations programs; so we are committed to standardize mathematics and science programs in Islamic countries gradually and as much as possible. Moreover, ISESCO and international organization are bound to submit their ideas to the member states before the next meeting of the Ministers of Education.
11. We entrust the following to the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization: Coordinating the efforts of member states by facilitating the exchange of experiences and expertise; setting evaluation standards for the education system to ensure the right to education in emergencies and crises, tracking the monitoring and evaluating its risks and consulting with financial and technical partners inside and outside the Islamic World in order to provide effective and efficient solutions to guarantee our right to education and learning. We support the comprehensive humanitarian coalition plan of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization to reduce the effects of COVID-19 pandemic on member states. We are committed to defend this plan at home and abroad, and call on the states, governmental and non-governmental organizations, donors and the private sector to support the activities and initiatives of the coalition to succeed. While setting the priorities, the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is committed to take the necessary steps to ensure the effectiveness of the comprehensive humanitarian coalition by supporting the most needy member states and prioritize education and learning.
12. We stress the importance of bilateral and multilateral cooperation especially during the crisis and emergency situations and we commit ourselves to ensure the stable resources of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization by paying the membership fees regularly and trying to attract foreign resources to carry out the assigned tasks based on the charter and resolutions of the general assembly and the technical meetings of ministers.
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