Under the patronage of H.E. Dr. Mohamed Ould Amar, Director-General of ALECSO, and H.E. Ms. Houda Babah, Minister of Education and Reform of the Educational System, and in the presence of the Minister for Youth Empowerment, Employment, Sports and Civil Service; the Governor of Western Nouakchott, the Secretary-General of the Mauritanian National Commission for Education, Culture and Science, the President of the National Union of Parent and Student Associations, along with numerous education officials, a training workshop titled “Prevention of Risky Behaviors” kicked off on May 7, 2025, in Nouakchott, Mauritania. The event was held in cooperation with the Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization (ALECSO).

The workshop, held in hybrid format, was designed to train education stakeholders on ways of preventing harmful behaviors in school environments, including violence, drug abuse, delinquency, and deviant behaviors. Nearly 400 educational officials from across Mauritania’s regions participated, including representatives from parent associations and relevant civil society organizations. 

ALECSO’s statement was delivered by Dr. Rami Iskander, Director of Education, who started by conveying the greetings of the Director-General, and his wishes for the success of the workshop. He thanked the Ministry of Education and the National Commission for their coordination and follow-up efforts to ensure the smooth running of the workshop.

Dr. Iskander stressed that organizing this workshop sends a strong message as to the importance of protecting schoolchildren and youth, and safeguarding educational environments from unethical and destabilizing behaviors. He highlighted the high importance that ALECSO attaches to youth education and the prevention of harmful behaviors through national programs and strategies, as well as the provision of expert support to Arab countries. ALECSO, he added, recommends the establishment of an observatory for risky behaviors to enable early detection and prompt intervention.

The workshop, which ran over three days, saw the participation of prominent experts in education, psychology, and educational sociology. It featured specialized scientific presentations and training sessions for officials from Mauritania’s education sector.