--> The Central Asian Education Forum, was set up in January 2002 to allow high-level decision-makers to monitor current educational reform, and strengthen partnerships and collaboration in the region. The presidency will rotate between the five countries - Kazakhstan, Kyrgystan, Tadjekistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan - starting with Kazakhstan in 2002.

--> An informal subregional EFA working group for the Baltic countries, composed of representatives from Latvia, Lithuania and Sweden, was established in January 2002 to facilitate information sharing and foster partnerships between the Baltic States.

--> The status of EFA in the Arab States was reviewed at the third meeting of ARABEFA, the Regional Mechanism for Education for All in the Arab Region, in Beirut on 21 January. Although all the concerned countries have set up national EFA teams, the meeting called for stronger commitment to the EFA agenda.

--> In March 2002, UNESCO Santiago launched a regional network to identify innovations, conduct training and provide a platform for information exchange through publications and a web site containing an innovations databank and other tools for teachers. The overall aim of the network is to contribute to change in classroom practice and create links between innovation, research, teacher training and education policies.

--> The EFA Planning Guide, designed by UNESCO Bangkok as a working tool for educational planners and statisticians in charge of preparing the national EFA plans will shortly be available in Arabic. ARABEFA and the Arab Bureau of Education in the Gulf Countries (ABEGS), are currently putting the final touches to the Arabic translation which will be distributed in all Arab countries.

Much more on www.unesco.org/education/efa

Education Today, Executive Office, Education Sector, UNESCO
7, place de Fontenoy - 75352 Paris 07 SP - France - Tel: 33 1 45 68 21 27 - Fax: 33 1 45 68 56 26/27
E:mail: t.murtagh@unesco.org