Jeddah, May 14, 2020, SPA -- Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Dr. Yousef bin Ahmed Al-Othaimeen stressed that the efforts of member states and sharing their successful experiences in facing COVID-19 in the educational field have a direct impact on students and their human and professional future and hence the future of member states. This came in a speech by the Secretary General at the Extraordinary Virtual Conference of Ministers of Education of Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), which was held today in cooperation with the Ministry of Education of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The Secretary General pointed out that despite the success of many member states in finding possible, effective and rapid solutions through means of modern technology and applications of artificial intelligence to ensure the continuity of the educational process, the conditions were not the same in a number of countries that suffer from low technical and human resources and fragile economic conditions. He said that this led to the multiplication of negative effects, depriving some children and youth from education, and the increase in school dropout rates, especially in the least developed countries. Dr. Al-Othaimeen called on member states that have advanced experiences in education and artificial intelligence to provide support and advice to the less fortunate countries to ensure the continuity of education, stressing that the responsibility requires collective and serious action to face this common danger to ensure a safe return to schools. --SPA 15:20 LOCAL TIME 12:20 GMT 0016 www.spa.gov.sa/w1328025