UNESCO IN THE WORLD — UNESCO IN THE ARAB STATES

1981 Regional Conference of Ministers responsible for Higher Education, Algiers 1989 ARABUPEAL launched 1991 Assistance in reconstructing educational facilities in Kuwait and Lebanon 1992 Regional Meeting on Educational Policies in the Arab Region, Cairo 1994 Establishment of a UNESCO Chair on Human Rights and Democracy at Al-Bayt University, Jordan 1995 Regional symposium of policy-makers in technical and vocational education in the Arab States, Tunis

OBJECTIVE 2000: GENERALIZE AND RENEW PRIMARY EDUCATION, ERADICATE ILLITERACY Replicating the early activities of UNESCO in the region, the ARABUPEAL Programme launched in 1989 - and which met with new impetus after Jomtien - accentuates primary education and literacy within the context of lifelong education. (14) The programme is above all aimed at school-age children who have had no access to education or who have dropped out of school, unemployed young people lacking professional and technical qualifications, and illiterate adults and youth. UNESCO supports the initiative of Member States to set in place national plans to develop basic education, to mobilize resources and facilitate the access of girls and women to education.

GROSS ENROLMENT RATIOS by level of education	LITERACY IN ARAB STATES
		Increase at regional level of public expenditure for education as percentage of GNP: 1960    4.8 1965    4.9 1970    4.9 1975    4.1 1980    4.1 1985    5.8 1990    5.2 1993    5.8

CO-OPERATION FOR DEVELOPMENT 1946-1996 *		Hussein Kamel Bahaa El-Din Minister of Education of Egypt since 1991 We believe that education is the pivot of our national security taken in an overall meaning that covers our economy, our politics, our civilizational role and our domestic stability. In a nutshell, it is our path towards prosperity. Address to the Education for All Summit of Nine High-population Countries, New Delhi, 1993 Abdul Aziz Othman Al-Twaijri (Saudi Arabia) Director-General of ISESCO since 1991 The democracy of education [...] is one of the foundations of Islamic civilization, since education in Islam is both a right and a duty. It is a requirement for both individuals and society. Hence the importance of eliminating obstacles to the democracy of education which, stated clearly, means acceptance of the principle of participation. Opening Address to MINEDARAB V, Cairo, 1994 Federico Mayor (Spain) Director-General of UNESCO since 1987 Our schools must be revered places of learning and none of their lessons are more to be valued than those that teach the wisdom and virtues of peace and the follies and vices of war. Address to MINEDARAB V, Cairo, 1994
1946 UNESCO's Director General, Jaime Torres Bodet, visits a 'class under canvas'. The school, in Gaza, is one set up by UNESCO for young refugees. 1996 Visit of Colin N. Power, Assistant Director-General for Education, to Mus'ab Ibn Umair Elementary School for Girls, Gaza (renovated through funds-in-trust from Saudi Arabia and UNESCO), January 1996.
TO KNOW MORE (see also CD-ROM, Vol.I)

                               

FOOTNOTES:

* Cumulative, in millions of current dollars (not re-evaluated) utilized for the implementation of projects involving UNESCO.

(14)Egypt belongs to the group of Nine High-population Countries committed to the universalization of primary education and the eradication of illiteracy.

TO KNOW MORE (see also CD-ROM, Vol. I)

• Meeting of Senior Officials Responsible for Education in the Arab States. Amman, 22-26 June 1987. Final Report. Paris, UNESCO, 1987. (Arabic, English, French)
• Fundamentals and Methods for Rural Development in Arab Countries. Salah Yacoub and Issam Al-Zawawi. Amman, UNESCO/UNEDBAS, 1990. (Arabic)
• Literacy in the Arab world: Present Situation and Future Development. Saeed Ismail Ali. Amman, UNESCO/UNEDBAS. 1991. (Arabic)
• The Role of the School in the Development of Local Communities. UNESCO/UNEDBAS, 1993. (Arabic)
• ARABUPEAL. Second Session. Final Report. UNESCO/UNEDBAS, 1994. (Arabic, English, French)