qatar foundation hosts unesco’s arab states mid-term review on ‘education for all’
Arab Education Ministers demonstrate their accomplishments towards achieving the objectives of the “Education for All” initiative
Qatar Foundation and UNESCO are co-organizing the regional conference on the Arab states mid-term review on “Education for All” (EFA). The conference will be held under the patronage of Her Highness Sheikha Mozah bint Nasser Al Missned, Chairperson of Qatar Foundation between 19 and 21 February at Ritz Carlton Hotel in Doha.
Ministers of Education from 20 Arab countries will be participating in the conference to demonstrate their accomplishments towards achieving the objectives of the UNESCO ‘Education for All’ initiative. In addition, the ministers will discuss the conclusions of the EFA Global Monitoring Report for 2008 and share methods of resolving problems, diminishing obstacles and challenges regional countries have been facing in this regard.
The agenda for the conference features plenary sessions and roundtables discussing educational issues of special importance to Arab countries such as how to improve the standards of early childhood education, girls’ education and the education of children of ethnic minorities. Particular attention will be given to methods of achieving significant enrolment of out-of-school and street children and establishing gender equality in education.
Also, there will be a special session dedicated to accomplishing EFA objectives in post-conflict and crisis effected areas. Furthermore, the participants will examine ways to elevate standard of education in Arab countries and to cooperate with neighbouring states and regional organizations to deliver positive results and contribute to better accessibility of quality education for all.
In association with the conference, there will be an informational meeting discussing: the initiative launched by Supreme Education Council (SDC) to reform education in Qatar, the developmental procedures adopted by Qatar University and the contribution of Qatar Foundation to improving education at all levels. The steps taken by these institutions correspond to the comprehensive development plans of Qatar in its mission to achieve the EFA objectives as well as establishing a knowledge-based society.
Also attending will be UNESCO Director General Koichiro Maatsura and Her Excellency Khattou Bint El Boukhary, the First Lady of Mauritania.
The EFA initiative was launched in 2000 when participants at the World Education Forum in Dakar, Senegal, endorsed a comprehensive vision of education, anchored in human rights, affirming the importance of learning at all ages and emphasizing the need for special measures to reach the poorest, most vulnerable and most disadvantaged groups in societies.
