The Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization (ALESCO) participated, on August 18, 2026, in the opening of the National Forum for the Defense of the Arabic Language. ALESCO was represented by Dr. Rami Iskander, Director of Education, on behalf of H.E. Dr. Mohamed Ould Amar, Director-General of the Organization.
The Forum was organized by the Jordanian National Commission for Education, Culture and Science, in collaboration with the Amman Group for Future Dialogues, under the auspices of the Jordanian Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development. It brought together prominent academics, experts, and specialists.
In his opening remarks, H.E. Dr. Azmi Mahafzah, Minister of Education and Human Resources Development and Chairman of the Jordanian National Commission for Education, Culture and Science, stressed that Jordan’s strong commitment to the Arabic language reflects a national responsibility and a firmly established Hashemite approach. He highlighted the Kingdom’s efforts to strengthen the presence of Arabic in education, culture, and the media, as well as to protect it through legislation, particularly the Arabic Language Protection Law. He also pointed to efforts to develop curricula and teaching methods and to train teachers, calling for a shift from merely celebrating the Arabic language to empowering it in education, daily life, scientific research, and creativity.
For his part, Dr. Rami Iskander emphasized that Arabic is not merely a means of communication, but a civilizational, cultural, and developmental cause. Defending the language, he said, means defending Arab identity, heritage, and intellectual thought, as well as safeguarding future generations’ right to possess the tools of knowledge and creativity. He noted that ALESCO places the Arabic language at the heart of its mission, by supporting its teaching, developing curricula, training teachers, promoting scientific research and Arabic digital content, and leveraging AI applications and modern technologies in ways that preserve the language’s authenticity while enhancing its ability to meet the demands of the modern era. He presented, in this regard, the project of “Developing a Common Framework of Reference for the Arabic Language”, currently being implemented by ALESCO with the aim of harmonizing Arabic-language learning levels and assessment standards and improving the quality of Arabic-language education across Arab countries.
The Forum’s program included two scientific sessions addressing issues related to the defense of the Arabic language, the implementation of the Arabic Language Protection Law, the Arabization of sciences, the development of teaching methods, and the strengthening of Arabic’s presence in the digital environment.
ALESCO’s participation in the Forum reaffirms its commitment to supporting Arab initiatives aimed at safeguarding the Arabic language and strengthening its position in education and scientific research, while consolidating its presence in the digital sphere. These efforts contribute to promoting sustainable development and building knowledge societies across the Arab world.
