Gentlemen, the Chairmen of the National Assembly of Mauritius and Senegal,
Ladies and Gentlemen the Ministers,
Honourable Colleagues the Parliamentarians,
The Assistant Director General of UNESCO for Education,
Distinguished Experts
Ladies and Gentlemen the Guests.
On the initiative of the National Assemblies of Senegal and Mauritius
and with the very appreciable support of UNESCO through its Regional
Office (BREDA), we are gathered here for the first time among African
Parliamentarians, to talk about education.
You will agree with me that it was high time for the Representative
of the African populations, to meet in order to look into a priority
problem for the economic, social and cultural development of Africa.
During three days , from 21 to 23 January, 2002, this grand opening
, which will enable us to think, to direct, to influence and to follow
up from now the education policies in our different States, will be
without any doubt, one more step towards a better management of the
problems that our people face.
The African Forum of Parliamentarians for Education (FAPED) takes effect
as from today and its ambition is to be a melting pot of thoughts for
joint actions in order to overcome for good the scourges such as illiteracy,
low school enrolment, scientifical and technical backwardness, in a
word, all sectors of social and economic underdevelopment in a context
of globalization where we need all assets to be present everywhere with
all the chances of success.
Today, the African Forum of Parliamentarians for Education should set
itself up to bring its contribution to the construction of an Africa
which has to face huge challenges in the field of education. The number
of children out of school is increasing constantly, and if this rising
trend still continues, 57 million of children in age of going to school
will never attend school by 2015. This figure, according to the statisticians,
represents approximately three fourth of the children in the world who
will never have the opportunity to access to education.
Yet ten years ago the Governments of 155 countries gathered at the World
Conference for Education in JOMTIEN, undertook to give a quality basic
education to all the children in the world.
As far as our continent is concerned, we can observe today, right in
the middle or almost of the decade (1997-2006), that the objective is
far away from being reached. A lot remains to be done in order for the
decade not to be only a profession of faith from the governments , which
would be limited to simple wishes without concrete results, to the detriment
of African people who are still sagging under the weight of ignorance
and obscurantism in a new millenium where wisdom and knowledge lay down
their laws.
So, Ladies and Gentlemen, the Ministers,
Dear Colleagues,
Distinguished Guests,
Parliamentarians of Education,
Let us keep our eyes opened and face the reality, namely the deficiency
in education which undermines all effort which aims at reducing children
and mother mortality, improving public health and consomption of food,
ensuring a highly productive existence; we should not forget democracy
and good management that cannot exist and thrive in situations where
great sectors of the society are unable to participate in the active
life since they can neither read nor write.
Ladies and Gentlemen, dear participants, before ending my speech, I
would like with your permission to thank all the people who have kindly
responded to the invitation.
On behalf of the Senegalese Parliamentarians Network , on behalf of
the National Assembly of Senegal and the Senegalese people, we welcome
you on the African soil of Senegal.
I hope that the work will be equal to the expectations that the people
put in us.
May your stay be pleasant and useful.
I thank you for your kind attention.
