Commonwealth News and Information Service (London)
2 November 2009
The Commonwealth Secretariat and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization have signed a Cooperation Agreement to boost the education sector and progress towards major global targets, most specifically the Millennium Development Goals and Education for All
The Agreement signed on 30 October 2009 at Marlborough House, the Secretariat headquarters, is aimed at ensuring the two organisations work together, sharing information and contributing expertise to advocacy and efforts in key educational areas, such as teacher quality, and the development of appropriate policies.
Under the agreement, special attention will focus, among other areas, on teacher resource development and management, education for sustainable development, HIV and AIDS education, inclusive and quality learning promotion, gender education and developing of multi-stakeholder partnerships for education.
The agreement was signed, on behalf of the Commonwealth, by Ransford Smith, Deputy Secretary-General, and Nicholas R Burnett, Assistant Director-General for Education at UNESCO.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Mr Smith said that the agreement reflects the Commonwealth Secretariat's commitment to partnership, and underscores the importance "we attach to increasing momentum towards the achievement of MDGS and Education for All."
"We see as paramount the need for pooling and managing resources and mobilising competences towards development and equality. The Commonwealth Secretariat is a partnership organisation-one that is based on shared fundamental values," the Deputy Secretary-General said.
Mr Smith said the Commonwealth pays particular attention to building partnerships to achieve education goals, partly, because of the huge number of children-27 million- in Commonwealth countries who are out of school."We also view education as being at the heart of social, economic, cultural and technological development," he added.
On his part, UNESCO Assistant Director General of Education Nick Burnett also said his organisation "puts high premium on partnerships," noting that "it is a good way of leveraging resources."The reality is that in today's interdependent world, it is extremely important for organisations to partner and work together in areas of shared interest. This is therefore a very welcome idea. I don't see how we can address the many challenges we face today without collaboration," Mr Burnett said.
A broader Memorandum of Understanding has existed between the two organisations since 1980, but this notwithstanding, said Commonwealth Deputy Secretary-General Ransford Smith, "we took the view that in the area of education, we needed to strengthen our links."
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