JEDDAH, Dec 24 (KUNA) -- The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), in partnership with King Salman Global Academy for Arabic Language, on Wednesday organized a celebration marking World Arabic Language Day, in Jeddah, with Kuwaiti participation.
In an opening address delivered on his behalf, OIC Secretary General Hussein Taha said the initiative reflects the General Secretariat's openness toward cooperation with Saudi institutions and member states seeking to grant Arabic the status it deserves.
Assistant Secretary-General for Palestine and Jerusalem Affairs Samir Bakr noted that cooperation with the academy has produced specialized training courses for non-native Arabic speakers, achieving wide success and strong participation, alongside three joint celebrations hosted at the Secretariat.
He explained that the celebration is significant in establishing a practical cooperation model with specialized bodies, foremost the academy, focusing efforts on capacity building and delivering effective training programs to beneficiaries from member states.
For his part, Secretary General of the academy Saleh Al-Washmi, in remarks delivered by Deputy Secretary General Ibrahim Abanami, said cooperation with OIC resulted in initiatives including seminars and training programs benefiting teachers and learners across member states.
He added that cooperation expanded into knowledge and research fields, producing studies monitoring linguistic realities in OIC countries, stressing that the partnership represents a pivotal pillar supporting language initiatives and developing educational policies enhancing Arabic presence.
Meanwhile, Chairman of the Board of the Kuwait Arabic Language Association Eid Al-Dhafeeri affirmed Kuwait's firm commitment to Arabic education, describing it as a core subject across all stages, stressing the importance of qualified, scientifically and pedagogically competent teachers nationwide.
He stressed Kuwait's keenness, through the Ministry of Education, to modernize curricula inspired by leading global experiences, while preserving community characteristics and Arab linguistic heritage, alongside initiatives promoting reading, dialogue, writing skills, and regulatory measures mandating Arabic use across key sectors.
The Kuwaiti participation included Deputy Chairman Ahmad Al-Harbi and Reham Al-Fouzan, and was attended by Consul General Yousef Al-Tunaib and Counselor Turki Al-Daihani, underscoring Kuwait's continued support for Arabic language initiatives across regional international platforms. (end) fn.ahm