SG Speech/Forum Ed Ministers
SG Speech/Forum Ed Ministers
25 Sep 2006 19:12:48 FORUM EDUCATION MINISTERS MEETING Tanoa International Hotel, Nadi, Fiji 26 -27 September 2006 OPENING REMARKS BY THE SECRETARY GENERAL OF THE FORUM SECRETARIAT, GREG URWIN Honourable Ministers Officials from Forum Island Countries Observers and Development Partners Ladies and Gentlemen Good morning and a very warm welcome to the fifth Pacific Islands Forum Education Ministers Meeting. 2. I would first like to sincerely thank the Vice-President for his address. It clearly sets the tone for our meeting over the next two days. And I would also like to thank UNESCO in particular for their collaboration in co-organising and cost-sharing our two ministerial meetings. 3. Let me start, if I may, with a little history. The first Forum Education Ministers Meeting was held in Auckland in 2001. The outcome of that meeting was the Forum Basic Education Action Plan, which sets out a blueprint for educational development in our region. At each successive meeting of Education Ministers, the Plan has been reviewed and added to. 4. The regional education project PRIDE - Pacific Regional Initiatives for the Delivery of Basic Education , is the main implementing arm of the Forum Basic Education Action Plan. PRIDE is in its third year of operation and you will be hearing of its progress as well as the results of the Mid-Term Evaluation that has just been conducted. 5. It may interest you to know that the Forum Basic Education Action Plan and PRIDE have been cited as good practice' and other sectors have shown an interest in emulating this model for development. Both the Action Plan and PRIDE are noted in the Pacific Plan as models. 6. Not all of the Action Plan is being implemented by PRIDE and you will learn during this meeting of a range of initiatives that come, broadly, under the umbrella of the Plan. 7. The high number of attendees and observers at this meeting is an indicator of the success of this ministerial process. There are too many of you to single out, but we are very pleased to see a number of United Nations agencies, regional organisations and other inter-governmental bodies. I know that you will find this meeting a valuable forum for networking with one another, in addition to the formal programme of meetings. 8. In addition to our Forum members, we had so many requests to attend and make presentations that we had to draw the line so that Ministers were not overloaded. This is, however, a very positive indication that a lot of activity is taking place in the education sector and that it represents much encouraging good practice. 9. The Forum Secretariat is very happy to be able to play its part in creating an environment where many stakeholders are able to report on their work in education in the region. We are especially pleased that new players are entering the region, such as the World Bank which is implementing the Fast Track Initiative of Education For All. 10. It is encouraging also to see organisations that are traditionally associated with other sectors looking towards education as an element in their work. In this regard, I would like to draw attention to the participation of WHO, the World Health Organisation and UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund. 11. I have just learned that UNFPA is actively involved in the revision and development of curricula in a number of FICs to integrate issues related to sexuality into the school curriculum. This is a milestone and should have a real effect in stopping the spread of HIV/AIDS and other STI as well as on matters such as teenage pregnancy, which are serious concerns facing all of our countries. 12. There is clearly a high level of collaboration among education stakeholders and you will be hearing about some examples of this during your meeting. However I must add here that being in the coordination role provides its own challenges. There are times when we have to make the point that we need to keep within the boundaries of a clearly Pacific approach, one clearly worked with the interests of the Pacific as its basis. 13. I would like to say a little more about the Pacific Plan as it is notably relevant to the substance of your meeting. The sub-title of the Pacific Plan is strengthening regional cooperation and integration'. 14. The Pacific Plan is based on the concept of regionalism: that is countries working together for their joint and individual benefit. Regionalism under the Pacific Plan does not imply any limitation on national sovereignty. It is not intended to replace national programmes, only to support and complement them. A regional approach should be taken only if it adds value to national efforts. 15. Regional processes and institutions exist for the benefit of countries, and countries are encouraged to integrate them as essential components of the national policy and planning mainstream. The Pacific Plan will not work if this does not happen. 16. This can pose particular difficulties when it comes to education, a service that is, by and large delivered nationally. There are, of course, though, some outstanding examples of educational cooperation in the Pacific, such as the University of the South Pacific. I would urge you, therefore, to see regional initiatives in education , and for that matter in all spheres as an opportunity, not a threat or a compromise of your interests. 17. As well as providing a platform for reporting at this meeting, we are also introducing the theme of sustainable development, a theme which underpins all else. UNESCO is implementing a Decade for Sustainable Development and will be explaining how that is progressing. 18. Sustainable development is so important for the Pacific as the lives of our people are so interwoven with our physical and cultural environments. We must sustain them for future generations and teach our children to do so. 19. Clearly there are so many aspects and facets to education that you could sit here for days in discussion, in some ways that is one of the problems associated with such discussions. I was recently in this same room addressing teachers from around the region and I was greatly taken with their passion and enthusiasm for the concerns facing their profession. While some theorise from a policy perspective, they are at the forefront of educational activity , the chalk face if you like. I know you will not forget this dedicated group of professionals in your deliberations. 20. In conclusion, it is just over five years since that first ministerial meeting. Almost all the faces around the table have changed since then. The process of the meetings and their outcomes is what is providing continuity. I know you will keep up the momentum of your predecessors and make this a very robust Education Ministers Meeting. 21. I wish you well for your reflections and discussions over the next two days. I hope you also find time to enjoy the fellowship and friendship of your colleagues from around the region and of the development partners who have joined us. |
2006