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Ministerial
review meeting
of the nine high-population countries (E-9) |
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 Press
release on the meeting |
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Regional
framework |
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31
January - 2 February 2000 in Recife, Brazil |
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Ministers
of Education of the nine high-population countries (the E-9)
met in Recife, Brazil in February 2000 to critically assess
the situation of basic education. The challenge of achieving
education for all is particularly daunting in these large developing
countries (Bangladesh, Brazil, China, Egypt, India, Indonesia,
Mexico, Nigeria and Pakistan), which represent half of the worlds
population, and most of the adult illiterates. |
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Building
on the outcomes of the EFA 2000 Assessment,
the Ministers analysed the situation and chart a Framework for
Action. The new data provided governments and also civil society
with the necessary background for improved planning and efficient
implementation. |
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The
E-9 initiative was launched at the EFA Summit (December 1993,
New-Delhi, India), and since then the Ministers of Education
of these nine countries have met three times to review achievements
in basic education and define possible joint programmes. The
education of girls and women has been at the top of the E-9
agenda, as well as teacher training and literacy. These three
areas of basic education are strategically considered the most
important for reducing population growth and enhancing development
perspectives. The E-9 countries, in addition to intensifying
national action in the aforementioned fields, have also continued
by way of seminars and publications to share their experiences
on matters such as distance education and in-service teacher
training. |
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Serious
gaps and shortcomings
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The
nine Ministers of Education, when in Recife, acknowledged progress
but also the reality of serious gaps and shortcomings, which
need urgent attention from policy makers. A major element of
the Assessment was to obtain data on access of girls and women
to education, and the E-9 will pay special attention to this
group of people, it being understood that the education of girls
and women has a direct bearing on social development and population
growth. Though all E-9 countries report decreasing population
growth rates, some countries are still beset by relatively high
rates which are in slow decline, precisely those countries where
ineffective pro-gender policies have been in operation. Therefore
in Recife, experts and ministers will jointly look not only
at EFA data but also at population issues, being aware that
major development issues will not find long-term solutions without
serious policies addressing both the need to achieve EFA and
to decrease population growth. |
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In
Recife, the E-9 organized a round-table on "women as educators,
and women's education". The topic has been prepared by way of
nine recent national studies looking at the situation of women
in the cultural, social and educational context. Data produced
by the EFA 200 Assessment provided further inputs to highlight
the crucial importance and complexity of the issue. |
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An
important issue during the conference was the E-9 synthesis
report prepared jointly by UNESCO and Brazil. The nine national
reports are extremely complex and overflowing with new and exciting
data and information. The synthesis put problems and issues
into perspective, with the focus on past achievements and new
objectives. Finally, after having presented their case at the
World Education Forum, the
E-9 discussed how a better sharing of experiences could be achieved
and what policies would have to be developed to achieve the
EFA objective. |
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Participants
attending the meeting in Recife include the nine Ministers of
Education, senior officers and experts from the nine countries.
In addition participants will attend from UNESCO, UNDP, UNICEF,
UNFPA and the World Bank along with national and international
NGOs and the media. A special effort was made to bring journalists
from the E-9 countries to Recife. |
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For
more information, please contact : |
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Wolfgang
Vollmann, UNESCO
7, Place de Fontenoy
75352 Paris 07SP, France
Tel: (33) 1 4568 2129
Fax: (33) 1 4568 5629
E-mail: w.vollmann@unesco.org
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For
more information on the E-9 initiative |
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