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CON-NEXUS Online 05 ------------
CONFINTEA Nexus Online: The Electronic
CONFINTEA Follow-up Bulletin --------------
5th Issue ---------------------------------
21 September 1998 ------------------------------
Published by ------------------------------
------------ UNESCO Institute for Education
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****LEARNING FOR THE MILLENNIUM
is the theme of the first international follow-up to CONFINTEA taking place in connection with the Sixth World Assembly of the International Council for Adult Education (ICAE) in Ocho Rios, Jamaica from May 18-20, 1999.
Quote from the announcement: 'Join adult educators, literacy workers, environmentalists, human right educators, policymnakers, feminist educators, academics, learners, donor agencies and NGOs from around the world for this important international follow-up to the 1997 International Conference on Adult Education'.
contact: ICAE, e-mail: icae@web.net
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REGIONS***NEWS FROM THE REGIONS***NEWS FROM THE REGIONS***NEWS FROM THE RE
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AFRICA**** 

****LEARNING GENDER JUSTICE: FROM BEIJING TO HAMBURG AND BEYOND
From the 30 August to the 2 September 1998, a follow-up meeting of African participants met in Cape Town in relation to women, gender and adult education in Africa. The meeting was organised by the Uruguay-based GEO together with South African organisations, Adult Educators and Trainers
Association of South Africa (AETASA), Centre for Adult and Continuing
Education (CACE), and the International Office of the German Association
for Adult Education (DVV). GEO is holding four such meetings on various
continents. Twenty-five participants came from eight countries in Africa,
from adult education and/or gender-related programmes, in order to find
ways of taking forward the commitments to women's learning to which the
governments had agreed. In every UN conference declaration, whether it be
concerned with housing, environment, population, social development, there are strong commitments to education, training and development of grassroots women, but seldom are these commitments actualised. The Hamburg conference was explicitly about adult learning, therefore, it was seen to have a particular obligation to ensure that women's learning is advanced. The meeting in Cape Town aimed to move from political rhetoric to practical
action within a sober realisation of severe resource constraints.
Three broad priority areas were identified for action with a set of
recommendations to be followed through by particular bodies. The priorities were:
1. Popularisation of 'The Hamburg Declaration' and the 'Agenda For The
Future'
2. Women's Leadership Development
3. Implementation of 'An Index of Accomplished Commitments on Women's
Education'
The specific recommendations were :
1. The new Pan-African Association of Literacy and Adult Education take
responsibility for popularising the Declaration and Agenda from women and
gender perspectives.
2. The Adult Learners' Week initiatives in 1999 focus particularly on
Women's Learning and the popularisation of the Declaration and Agenda.
3. The Unesco Commissions in different countries to be approached to
popularise the documents amongst a range of stakeholders particularly from women and gender perspectives.
4. Unesco Commissions and the Unesco Institute for Education are approached to assist with the simplification and translation into local languages where possible.
5. Feminist media, communications and networking projects like FEMNET,
based in Kenya, and Agenda, based in South Africa, to popularise the documents and highlight the critical importance of gaining recognition for women's right to learn throughout their lives
6. The Declaration and Agenda to be used as tools by NGOs and governments to foreground the importance of women's learning for the strengthening of
women and their local communities and to (re)conscientize people about how customary law and certain traditional practices can inhibit the development of women's leadership and participation.
7. The Index of Accomplished Commitments, developed by GEO and improved on at the Cape Town meeting, to be adopted as a way to monitor governments
commitments to women's education - the four countries which will
participate are Zambia, Kenya, South Africa and Zimbabwe.
8. The GEO to link all the participants electronically through a
Listserve and will communicate  about international and future
developements in that way.
9. All participants to communicate with their governments and relevant regional structures in the most appropriate ways about the Declaration, the Agenda and  the outcomes of the Cape Town meeting, showing the links to previous declarations, like Beijing and CEDAW, which many governments have signed.
Participants left picturesque Cape Town to return home and to continue to
lobby and advocate for adult learning, gender equality and equity for
women. The linkage between the women's movement in Latin America, via the
GEO, and African women and men activists was seen as a significant step
forward and will provide the platform for rebuilding women's learning in
Africa.
contact: Shirley Walters, Chair, Organising Committee (e-mail: ferris@iafrica.com)
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****Adult Learning: the Future for Namibia
Namibia's follow-up conference on CONFINTEA V, took place in Windhoek on 1 and 2 September 1998, at the beginning of the National Literacy Week.  The conference was jointly organised by the Ministry of Basic Education and Culture, the Namibian Association for Literacy and Adult Education, the National Commission for UNESCO and the country working group on nonformal
education of the Association for the Development of Education in Africa
(ADEA).  Sponsorship was provided by UIE and ADEA.
Organisers were gratified by the turn-out of over 130 participants, being
decision-makers and adult education practitioners from various
government ministries, including the Office of the Prime Minister,
non-governmental organisations, higher education institutions, the UN
system, the private sector and trades unions, and the local media.
An action plan for the development of adult learning in Namibia, based on
the CONFINTEA documents, was drafted and will be completed by the
organizing committee.  Keynote speaker at the conference was Prof
Frank Youngman of the University of Botswana.  Report and
documentation should be available from early October 1998.
Further information can be obtained from Justin Ellis:
jellis@emis.mec.gov.na
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****Implementation of the Hamburg Declaration in Uganda
Uganda's Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development informs about progress in the area of adult learning in the wake of CONFINTEA, focusing on, among others
- building partnerships between Government Departments and NGOs. an intersectoral Committee for Literacy and Adult Education has been established to advise Government on policy matters. The Committee is replicated at district, sub-county, parish and village levels. It works closely with Local Councils at all levels in the framework of decentralisation.
- reaching the most needy in the community (e.g. people with disabilities): a primer has been translated to Braille and is being pre-rested in two districts with support from Uganda National Association of the Blind (UNAB).
- promotion of income generation and diversifying the content of work-related adult learning: a needs assessment survey of income generating activities for functional adult literacy has revealed that the majority of the learners are interested in agro-based income generating activities since the majority of rural population is engaged in farming. As a consequence of the same survey which showed that adult learners were interested in covering different programme areas as they have close linkages, a curriculum adressing different areas like agriculture, marketing, health, HIV/AIDS related learning, water and environmental sanitation, gender, culture and civic consciousness was developed.
- women's integration and empowerment: higher enrolment of women in Functional Adult Literacy courses. Out of the 118741 learners enrolled in 1998, 91294 are women. 
The Ministry is planning a National Consensus Conference.
more info: Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development, P.O. Box 7136, Kampala, Uganda; tel. +256-41-341034, fax: +256-41-256374
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ASIA & THE PACIFIC**** 

****APPEAL Symposium on Basic Education and Lifelong Learning
The Chinese National Commission for UNESCO and APPEAL (UNESCO's Asia-Pacific Programme of Education for All) jointly organized this meeting in Beijing and Boading, China, on September 09-12. CONFINTEA V documents as well as strategies for follow-up of CONFINTEA V were presented and then discussed by 41 participants from 18 countries in the region.  Recommendations elaborated during this China meeting are expected to be presented to the PROAP meeting of Education Ministers in November 1998.  Report of the meeting is available from PROAP/APPEAL (e-mail: APPEAL@mozart.inet.co.th). 
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EUROPE**** 

****Estonia****
****The Estonian Adult Learner's Week was organized from September 07-11, 1998.
contact: andras@andras.ee
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****The Norwegian National Learners' week took place from 08-15 September, 1998. Info: nuvoks@vofo.no; http://www.vofo.no
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****ANDRAS, the Association of Estonian Adult Educators is hosting an International Seminar on The Role and Organisation of Adult Education in the Period of Transition in Tallinn on 5-8 November 1998.
addressing policy makers, adult educators and researchers, the main themes to be discussed in the seminar are:
- role and organisation of adult education in the countries in transition (particularly in Central and Eastern European and Baltic [CEEB] countries)
- educational market - educational needs and opportunities in CEEB countries
- supplying adult education information and creation of databases
- reinforcement of adult education quality
- trends in adult education of CEEB countries in relation to European integration
Further information: Ene Kaepp, Eve Paernappu (e-mail:andras@andras.ee)
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****European Regional Forum
In order to discuss the CONFINTEA follow-up in the European region, the forum will take place on October 01 in connection with the "XXX Meeting in Finland" Seminar and the general assembly of the European Association for the Education of Adults (EAEA), 30 Sepember - 04 October, 1998 
information (also about the Finland Adult Learners' Week): Johanni Larjanko, International Affairs Secretary, FAEA (e-mail: larjanko@kaapeli.fi).
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****Adult Learning Week in Germany
During the German version of the Adult Learning week, the 'Lernfest' in May 1999 a one-day CONFINTEA forum is planned on 16 May 1999 under the topic 'Time for Adult and Continuing Education', organized jointly by the German Institute for Adult Education (DIE) and UIE in cooperation with the German UNESCO Commission, the Federal Ministry of Education and the Conference of Ministers of Education.
contact: A.Grimme-Institut (e-mail: grimme-institut@wrd.de)
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****Adult Education - Russia's Entrance into the 21st Century (Impulse of the 5th International Conference on Adult Education)
Under this theme the All-Russia Conference on adult education will take place on November 17-19 in Nizhny Novgorod, organized by the International UNESCO Chair at Nizhny Novgorod State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering in cooperation with the Institute of Adult Education under the Russian Academy of Education (St. Petersburg).
Objectives: - To increase social and professional awareness of the CONFINTEA ideas
- To elicit peculiarities in the development of adult education in Russia on the verge of the centuries
- To work out suggestions on for the legislative basis of adult education
contact: Prof. Valentin V. Naidenko, Head of International UNESCO Chair, Nizhny Novgorod State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering, ul. Ilyinskaya 65, Nizhny Novgorod 603600, Russia, tel. +7(8312)338247, fax +7(8312)337366
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****LATIN AMERICA & CARIBBEAN 

**** 4th Adult Learning Week in Jamaica: "Adult Education: Challenges and Opportunities"
Under this proposed theme the Jamaican Adult Learning week is planned for October 25-31, 1998, organized by the Jamaican Council for Adult Education (JACAE). Proposed activities: *Church services *Lectures/workshops/seminars *Exhibitions and displays *Fund raising activities
contact: JACAE, 47 B South Camp Road, Kingston 4, Jamaica
or UNESCO Office Kingston (e-mail: c.harvey@unesco.org)
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****Regional Follow-up Strategy**** 
A Regional Meeting on the Follow-up Strategy to CONFINTEA V for the Latin American Region was held on July 17, 1998 in Mexico. 
A basic document was elaborated for  National Follow-up Meetings to be distributed in the respective geographic areas. The document will be discussed at the Subregional Meetings (see below). 
Seven priority issues were selected for the Thematic Roundtables and a provisional daily schedule for the Subregional Follow-up Meetings, also applicable for the National Follow-up Meetings has been elaborated.
For detailed Information to the Subregional Meetings, please contact the respective organizing entities:
*MERCOSUR Zone (Argentine, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay)
Responsible: UNESCO/OREALC
Venue: Montevideo (Uruguay), 17-20 November 1998
Contact Person: José Rivero, UNESCO, e-mail: jrivero@unesco.ci
*Andes Zone (Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Perú and Venezuela)
Resonsible: CEAAL
Venue: Cali (Colombia), 19-22 January 1999
Contact Person: Carlos Zarco, CEAAL, e-mail: czarco@laneta.apc.org
*The Meeting for the Golf of Mexico and Central American Zone (Costa Rica, Cuba, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama and Dominican Republic) has been postponed from October 1998 to February 1999 (to be confirmed).
Responsible: INEA, CREFAL
Contact Persons: Enrique García Arista, INEA, e-mail: coas3@inea.gob.mx
and: Ana María Méndez, CREFAL, e-mail: amendez@rds2000.crefal.edu.mx 
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****Brasilian Follow-up
A preparatory meeting to Regional Follow-up Strategy is to be held in
Curitiba, Parana, Brazil, 29-30 September 1998, organized by
UNESCO Brazil, MEC/SEF - Ministry of Education and Sports, CONSED - National Council of Secretaries of Education, UNDIME, Union of Municipal Educational Leaders and CEAAL - Latin American and Caribbean Council for Adult Education.
contact: SEEPR - Secretary of Education of the State of Parana, Secretary Dr. Ramiro Wahrahftig, Av. Agua Verde 1680, 80240-900 Curitiba PR.
Tel.:+5541-3421144/3856, Fax:+5541-2438235, and Departamento de Educacao de Jovens e Adultos, Chefia: Profa. Regina Celia Alegro - Tel.: +5541-3401734, Fax:+5541-3401739. Contact Person at CEAAL: Maria Clara Di Pierro, Tel.: +5511-8255544, Fax:++5511-86661082, e-mail: acaoeduca@originet.com.br or
acaoeducativ@ax.apc.org
Portuguese versions of the Hamburg Declaration on Adult Learning and the Agenda for the Future are available from the UNESCO Office in Brasilia (e-mail: uhbrz@unesco.org) 
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****Peru
Intensive work is being done in Peru for the dissemination of the Agenda for the Future and the Hamburg Declaration in the adult education field. 2000 copies of the CONFINTEA documents have been distributed to adult educationalists and more than 1000 persons have participated in workshops in which the documents were reflected and analysed. The Agenda for the Future has been taken very much into consideration in the formulation of the proposed new Curriculum for Primary Education for Adults and Youths that are to be validated and generalized in December of this year for all Educative Centres of Peru. info: Ms Vela Tellez, National Director of Adult Education, Peru (e-mail: mvela@minedu.gob.pe)
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PUBLICATION 

Bilingual (English/Spanish) brochure on older adults as helpers in learning processes published by the Europaen Association for the Education of Adults (EAEA): "Releasing the Resource. Older Adults as Helpers in Learning Processes/Un Recurso en Acción. Personas Mayores: Personas-Recurso para la Educación de Adultos"
contact: EAEA Office for Organisation and Development, e-mail: eaea@mx2.redestb.es
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MISCELLANEOUS 

****1998 ESCAP AWARD
The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP)is now calling for applications for its 1998 HRD Award. The theme of this year's award is Human Resources Development (HRD) Through Adult Education. The deadline for applications is 30 November 1998. The prize is US$30,000 in the form of a grant in support of work in the area of adult education.
contact: Laura Skolnik (ESCAP), e-mail: skolnik.unescap@un.org
More information: http://www.escap-hrd.org or from the CONFINTEA Follow-up Message Board on the CONFINTEA homepage (http://www.education.unesco.org/uie/confintea), please select "Read Messages", section "Others"
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****ADULT EDUCATION FOR A NUCLEAR-FREE WORLD
Proposal for a project on anti-nuclear media literacy developed by ICAE. Excerpt: 'In developing an adult education campaign for a nuclear-free world, we must look critically at the information available to citizens, helping to see and understand the real dangers of nuclear weapons. In the wake of the recent nuclear tests, both the international and South Asian media demonstrated a biased and arguably "propagandist" approach to making news, selectively reporting frenzied expressions of nationalist fervour. In a similarly narrow reporting style, the South asian media have not been concerned with a serious discussion of the dangers of nuclear arms'.
Objectives:
1. To educate our constituents and the general public about the increased peril from nuclear escalation and accidental nuclear detonation/war. The initial focus will be in South Asia, with plans to expand the program globally, through the International Round Tables for Peace and Human Rights, sponsored by the Government of Canada.
2. To foster citizen study and advocacy, linking nuclear proliferation to -environmental impact and dangers; -media literacy and analysis: -democratic citizenship; -the economy; - an historical analysis of the effects of nuclear detonation on people and the environment
3. To collaborate and build a network with:
- policy makers at the national, regional and global levels
- governments, UN bodies, professional bodies
- formal and non-formal education institutions and groups
- like-minded and member NGOs and international NGOs
4. To fully integrate Anti-Nuclear education into all of the ICAE's programmes. To seek a resolution at the ICAE World assembly, Jamaica 1999, for a Culture of Peace to prohibit the production, testing and use of nuclear weapons.
further information: ICAE Secretariat, e-mail: icae@web.net
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ERRATUM
Oops! The correct addresses for direct downloading of the Mumbai Statement on Lifelong Learning, Active Citizenship and the Reform of Higher Education from the CONFINTEA homepage (given in CON-NEXUS On line 04) is
http://www.unesco.org/education/uie/confintea/
../mumbeng.html (English version)
../mumbfra.html (French)
../mumbspa.html (Spanish)

Sorry for any inconvenience caused! 

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