Arab progress must be accelerated to meet 2015 goals
Education In Conflict identified as key challenge for region
'Doha Declaration' adopted as route forward
Qatar Foundation identified as a 'ray of hope' in the region
Doha - The Arab region mid-term review of Unesco's EFA program closed on Thursday with a warning that a slowing in the rate of progress towards the scheme's objectives could mean the Arab world fails to meet its 2015 targets.
The review, co-organised and hosted by Qatar Foundation in Doha, singled out as causes for concern the problems faced by the region's least developed countries and those in a conflict or post-conflict situation.
Leading the closing remarks, Dr Abdulla bin Ali Al-Thani, Education Vice President at Qatar Foundation said delegates would leave with a sense of achievement but also an awareness that 'much yet remains to be done.'
Dr Abdulla said that Qatar Foundation represented a 'ray of hope' in the region and that Qatar's ongoing education reforms will have a beneficial effect on education levels across the Arab states. He singled out the involvement of Reach Out to Asia (ROTA) created two years ago by HE Sheikha Mayassah bint Hamad Al-Thani in bringing assistance to those in afflicted areas.
The conference had earlier devoted sessions to the subject of 'education in conflict' at which Omnia Nour, Director of ROTA, had stressed the need for an holistic approach to the problem that would identify and link up all agencies working in affected countries. A roundtable discussion on the problem went on to press for stronger political leadership, develop online database resources and seek the more continuous attention of the media beyond individual crises.
Delegates to the conference endorsed a 'Doha Declaration' that recognised that while progress towards the goals of the EFA program had been made, the problems of those living in conflict and post conflict regions - along with broader educational issues including drop-out rates, infrastructure, literacy rates and the quality of education provided remained.
Dr Nicholas Burnett, Unesco's assistant director general, education identified political will; the application of the technical lessons learned so far and the need for greater regional and international co-operation as the ways in which the Arab world could yet meet the EFA objectives.
However, he warned that: "There has been progress since 2000, but progress has slowed since the pace of the 1990s," adding: 2015 is not far way, in fact it is very, very close."
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About Qatar Foundation
Founded in 1995 by His Highness Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani, Emir of Qatar, and chaired by Her Highness Sheikha Mozah Bint Nasser Al Missned, Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development is a private, non-profit organization committed to the principle that a nation's greatest natural resource is its people.
The headquarters of Qatar Foundation are located within its flagship project, Education City, an eight million square-metre campus which hosts numerous progressive learning institutions and centres of research, including branch campuses of five of the world's leading universities, plus a cutting-edge research and development centre. Qatar Foundation also works to enhance the quality of life in Qatar by investing in community health and development.For more information, please visit: www.qa.org.qa
About UNESCO
UNESCO (the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) is a specialized agency of the United Nations established in 1945. Its stated goal is to build peace in the minds of men through education, social and natural science, culture and communication. UNESCO is working to create the conditions for genuine dialogue based upon respect and shared values, and the dignity of each civilization and culture. The world urgently requires global visions of sustainable development based upon observance of human rights, mutual respect and the alleviation of poverty, all of which lie at the heart of UNESCO's mission and activities.
UNESCO functions as a laboratory of ideas and a standard setter to forge universal agreements on emerging ethical issues. The Organization serves as a clearinghouse for the dissemination and sharing of information and knowledge, while helping Member States to build their human and institutional capacities in diverse fields. UNESCO promotes international co-operation in 191 Member States in its fields of competence. For more information, please visit: www.unesco.org
The Six Goals of the EFA
1: Expanding and improving comprehensive early childhood care and education, especially for the most vulnerable and disadvantaged children.
2: Ensuring that by 2015 all children, particularly girls, children in difficult circumstances and those belonging to ethnic minorities, have access to, and complete, free and compulsory primary education of good quality.
3: Ensuring that the learning needs of all young people and adults are met through equitable access to appropriate learning and life-skills programmes.
4: Achieving a 50% improvement in levels of adult literacy by 2015, especially for women, and equitable access to basic and continuing education for all adults.
5: Eliminating gender disparities in primary and secondary education by 2005, and achieving gender equality in education by 2015, with a focus on ensuring girls' full and equal access to and achievement in basic education of good quality.
6: Improving all aspects of the quality and education and ensuring excellence of all so that recognised and measurable learning outcomes are achieved by all, especially in literacy, numeracy and essential life skills.
For more information, please contact:
Omar Chaikhouni
Media Relations Officer at Qatar Foundation
Tel: +974 686 4192
Jeremy Hunt
Bell Pottinger
Tel: +974 545 1997
© Press Release 2008
