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SUB-REGIONAL EFA
FORUM
UNESCO / Gouvernment of Cameroon
Yaounde
(Cameroon), 22 - 25 April 2002
Education:
Immense challenges to be overcome
Within
the framework of the regular follow-up action of the EFA process
in Africa, a sub- regional forum was held in Yaounde from 22 to
25 April, 2002. "Education for all by the year 2015",
as indicated by the Director of BREDA, constitutes a "pressing
challenge", given that "denial of the right to education
by whosoever is fundamentally unacceptable".
The apprehensions are based on recongnized facts. According to an
analysis made at BREDA, almost 50% of the countries may not reach
the target of education for all by the year 2015. More than 30%
of children of school age will therefore not have access to school.
And gender disparity in education will affect 75% of the countries.
Forecasts indicate that 10% of teachers will die of AIDS within
the next five years~ and among children of school age the number
of orphans as a result of HIV/AIDS will rise to 20%.
Moreover, nineteen countries at the bottom of the human development
index of the United Nations development pro gram (PNUD) are located
in Africa south of the Sahara. Also, between now and 2005, 51% of
the inhabitants of this part of the world will live in absolute
poverty .We should not forget that many countries in this region
are witnessing crises situation and difficulties associated with
reconstruction. There is cause for a bit of alarm. " Africa
' s major challenge in education will only be overcome if poverty
is eradicated, " opines BREDA. In a realistic vision, Armoogum
Parsuramen affirms that "this new Africa that we desire ardently
[via NEPAD]
will certainlyemerge through our collective commitment, but especially
through the scope of our collective efforts for concrete actions".
Under the present circumstance, that means, in the words of Patricia
de Mowbray (United Nations co-ordinator in Cameroon), promoting
in each African country an education system that focuses on learning
and the process of apprenticeship. "We, Governments, organizations,
institutions, groups and associations represented at the World Forum
on Education, pledge to arouse, at the national plans of action
and noticeably increase investment in basic education". That
is the unanimous commitment made in Dakar in 2000. Words should
be matched with action.
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