UNESCO IN THE WORLD — INTERNATIONAL BUREAU OF EDUCATION

1934 First session of theInternational Conference on Public Education 1947 The International Conference is convened jointly by IBE and UNESCO 1948 Xth volume of the International Yearbook of Education published jointly by UNESCO and IBE 1952 Broadening the scope of the co-operative agreement Institutionalization of relations between UNESCO and the IBE Setting up a Joint Commission 1960 UNESCO and IBE cooperate within the framework of the first Major Project for education in Latin America

CO-EXISTENCE AND CO-OPERATION WITH UNESCO (1946-1968) The creation of UNESCO could have called into question the very existence of IBE. However, following agreements concluded in 1947, the scope of which was broadened in 1952, the activities of IBE continued as before, but in a new spirit which corresponded to the concerns of the post-war period. (8) A select committee was entrusted with creating greater unity of action between the two organizations and UNESCO also made a financial contribution to IBE. As of 1947, the International Conference on Public Education, whose yearly sessions had become increasingly successful, was to be convened jointly by UNESCO and IBE, thus establishing interaction between UNESCO’s programme, and the themes and recommendations of the Conference, notably those concerning compulsory education and its prolongation (1951), access of women to education (1952), and the status of teachers (1953, 1954). Co-operation in the field was also constructive, especially within the framework to the first Major Project in Latin America. 1968 marked a turning point for IBE. Faced with great financial difficulties, (9)the Council decided to ‘seek a new form of relationship with UNESCO for the International Bureau of Education whereby it shall become an international centre of comparative education within the framework of UNESCO.’ (10) Jean Piaget, who decided to leave the Bureau after heading it since 1929, stated in his letter of resignation that ‘new and brilliant prospects are opening up for the IBE.’ (11) The purpose of the 1968 Agreement was to ‘ensure the continuity of the work conducted by the IBE since 1929.’ (12) The General Conference granted statutes to the latter which established IBE as an integral part of UNESCO, as an international centre of comparative education enjoying wide intellectual and operational autonomy. The IBE Council, composed of representatives of Member States designated by the General Conference, guarantees this autonomy. (13)

1949 12th INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON PUBLIC EDUCATION, GENEVA The twelfth International Conference on Education meeting at Geneva from 4 to 12 July 1949 examined reports by the Ministers of Education on the development of education during the academic year 1948/49 and drew special attention to the problems of teaching the natural sciences in primary schools, the teaching of reading and geography as a means of encouraging international understanding. Professor Paulo de Berredo Carneiro, member of the UNESCO Executive Board and Permanent Delegate of Brazil to UNESCO, was elected President of the Conference. Professor Carneiro has represented the Government of Brazil at many international conferences, notably those of the ILO, the Institute of Intellectual Co-operation and the United Nations at London in 1946. He has long been associated with the work of UNESCO. He was a delegate to the Conference in London in 1945 where the Constitution of UNESCO was drawn up; he was concerned with the work of the Preparatory Commission during 1946 and was a delegate to the first, second and third sessions of the UNESCO General Conference in Paris, Mexico and Beirut. At the Paris Conference he was elected for a three-year term to the Executive Board of UNESCO. During the Conference, Jaime Torres Bodet, Director-General of UNESCO, declared in particular: ‘On these parts of the programme, I am glad to be able to tell you that UNESCO, well aware of their importance is helping to arrange several international seminars. One of these, dealing with the problem of illiteracy on the continent of America, has been organized jointly by the Brazilian Government, the Organization of American States and UNESCO: it will be held at Niteroi (Brazil) from 27 July to 2 September 1949. Another seminar will be held this year, with the assistance of the Indian Government, near Mysore, between 2 November and 14 December; this one will deal with adult education in rural communities in Asia. Preparations are already in hand for two seminars to be held next year; one, on the improvement of school textbooks and in particular of history textbooks, will be a sequel to a series of surveys and recommendations begun some time ago; the other will deal with the teaching of geography as a means of developing international understanding [...]’, and Professor Carneiro added ‘[...] Cannot we find in geography lessons, from the study of climate to the distribution of natural wealth, excellent opportunities to awaken and develop in pupils an appreciation of the interdependence of humanity?’ The UNESCO Courier, August 1949.

Harold J. Noah (United Kingdom) Educator, author Rosselló did not, in fact, try to base his comparative study on ‘mathematical-laboratory methods.’ What he sought to discover through his s tudy of the basic data accumulated at the IBE were the recent trends in education and society, which might enable him to predict the shape of the future. Toward a Science of Comparative Education, Macmillan, 1969 André Chavanne Secretary of State of the Swiss Federation and Head of the Swiss Delegation Our conference must constantly bear in mind the need for boldness in approaching the educational reforms called for [...] above all by providing true equality of opportunity in education for all children. Speech to the 32nd session of ICE, Geneva, 1970 Pedro Rosselló (Spain) Deputy Director of IBE from 1929 to 1967 The adoption of recommendations in the field of education was (at that time) a bold innovation. Educationists were highly suspicious of government intervention in this field and the governments themselves were wary of any international action in this connection. Preface to International Conference on Education. Recommendations 1934-1977, UNESCO René Maheu (France) Director-General of UNESCO from 1962 to 1974 By analysing the overall trends in education throughout the world and by concentrating on the study of the most vital and urgent questions [...] the Bureau will be able to play the part of an international centre of comparative education, which the General Conference has assigned to it. Opening speech to the 32nd session of ICE, Geneva, 1970

                               

FOOTNOTES:

(8) Amongst others, IBE participated in educational reconstruction and contributed to the creation of the UIE in Hamburg.

(9) Many IBE Member States had ceased to pay their dues.

(10) The International Bureau of Education in the Service of Educational Development, Suchodolski, B. et al., UNESCO, 1979.

(11) Ibid.

(12) Agreement between UNESCO and the IBE, 15C/Res. 14.1, 1968.

(13) The number of Members of the Council was increased from 21 to 24 in 1976 and to 28 in 1995.

Caption: From right to left, Jean Piaget and Pedro Rosselló, Director and Deputy Director of the IBE respectively during the 15th International Conference on Public Education in 1952. Jean Piaget, whose centenary was celebrated in 1996, was also UNESCO's acting Assistant Director-General for Education (Oct. 1949 - Jan. 1950)

Caption2:From right to left: Pedro Rosselló, Deputy Director of the IBE, who worked closely with UNESCO for many years with Ricardo Diez-Hochleitner, at that time Director of the Department of Educational Planning and Financing at UNESCO, and Joaquim Tena.