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Adult literacy policies must materialise by 2012 demands Global Campaign for Education |
لا يوجد حاليا أي الترجمة المتاحة لهذه الصفحة
02/12/2009 Governments must create costed policies, targeted plans and legislation to address global adult literacy and lifelong learning by 2012, which donors should back with substantial resources.
The advocacy statement issued yesterday by the Forum International Sociedad Civil was echoed and reinforced by the Global Campaign for Education at CONFINTEA VI, the sixth international conference on adult education.
Speaking at Tuesday’s opening ceremony of CONFINTEA VI, Matarr Baldeh and Maria Khan of the GCE board called on the forum to recognise adult basic education as a legal human right.
Addressing an audience including Princess Laurentien of the Netherlands, UNESCO Member States, United Nations agencies, multi- and bi-lateral cooperation agencies, organisations from civil society, the private sector and learners from all world regions, Mr Baldeh and Ms Khan urged CONFINTEA VI to agree to binding minimum spending targets for adult education.
Mr Baldeh, National Coordinator and CEO of Gambia’s Education for All Campaign Network (EFA Net), said: “The shocking neglect of this vital sector must be reversed. It is a scandal that almost 800 million adults, the majority of them women, will wake up tomorrow unable to read and write. These people are unable to earn a decent living, cannot access health services, and are excluded from full participation in society and democracy. CONFINTEA VI must agree a programme of action that is specific, actionable and monitorable, so that we can assure our campaigners that the world is listening and is ready to act.”
Mr Baldeh presented UNESCO Director General Irina Bokova with a ‘Big Book’ containing thousands of signatures, representing the 14 million campaigners who signed the April 2009 Big Read demanding action on youth and adult education and literacy.
The Big Read took place in over 100 countries with campaigners reading and writing stories, which they presented to policy-makers to draw attention to the global crisis in literacy and learning. Supporters included Her Majesty Queen Rania of Jordan and Nelson Mandela, and award winning authors Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and Alice Walker.
Ms Khan, Secretary General of the Asia South Pacific Bureau for Adult Education (ASPBAE), highlighted key necessary aspects of future policies on adult education, saying these should be inclusive and diverse and span all areas of human activity.
“All governments have a responsibility to maximise the learning opportunities available for their citizens and so should ensure that sustainable investment is maximised from individuals, employers and the State to ensure no-one is left behind,” she said. “Adult and popular education are key tools to helping people cope with any crisis and enabling them shape a sustainable future.”
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