Author : Salwa Thabet Mekky
Source : US-China Law Review, David Publishing Company
Date of Publication : 02/2015
Abstract :
Literacy sets a building block for modern societies and sustainable development. It transcends the notion of basic reading and writing skills as it denotes technology literacy as well as communication skills within a specific sociocultural context. It sets an effective approach towards human resource development and promotes citizen active participation in the society. Eradicating illiteracy in the Arab world has become a pressing regional issue that should be placed at the top of the Arab governments' agenda, calling for collaborative efforts which would dramatically contribute to upgrading functional literacy, socioeconomic development, reducing unemployment and most importantly rescuing and promoting the Arabic language. Arabic language is one of the strongest bonds among Arab people and the backbone of Arab identity and Arab civilization, yet it has been facing serious threats imposed by globalization and technological developments challenging its existence and boosting risks of its marginalization. Hence such a threat decisively requires prompt, updated and creative unified vision and action.
The League of Arab States (LAS) has failed, for many years, to actively play its supranational role to promote common Arab interests and resolve Arab issues. Its functional re-engineering has become indispensable for its survival and institutional effectiveness. This study focuses on the role of LAS and the Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization (ALECSO) in initiating, coordinating and monitoring a unified Arab Literacy Socio-Economic Development (ALSED) Project. The mission of this process is to achieve sustainable socioeconomic development in the region through synchronization of both industrial development and illiteracy eradication.
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