Trevor Sargent
Ceist:154 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Education and Science the implementation plan for commitment to universal schooling by 2000 made by 150 governments in Jomtien, Thailand. [14874/02]
Written Answers. - Education for All.
The World Declaration on Education for All in Jomtien, 1990 identified six main goals as follows: expansion of early childhood care and developmental activities; universal access to, and completion of, primary education by 2000; improvement in learning achievement; reduction in adult illiteracy rate, especially the disparity between male and female illiteracy rates; expansion of basic education and training in other essential skills required by youth and adults; and increased acquisition by individuals and families of the knowledge, skills and values required for better living, made available through education channels.
A set of indicators was established to measure progress towards the achievement of these goals and formed the basis for the country reports. I am arranging for a copy of the Irish report to be conveyed to the Deputy.
The World Education Forum in Dakar in 2000 presented an opportunity to assess progress in the achievement of the goals in the area of basic education for all set in Jomtien. The forum received inputs from Regional Education for All meetings which also assessed progress in attaining the Jomtien objectives.
The Dakar forum adopted a new framework entitled Education for All: Meeting our Collec tive Commitments. The forum, while revealing a mixed picture in relation to the achievement of the objectives agreed at Jomtien, noted that some progress had been made in areas such as a reduction in the absolute numbers of children without basic primary education, in general adult literacy levels and in reducing the gender imbalance in terms of access to education.