Commonwealth To Focus On Education Quality, Access

New Delhi, Dec 11 (UNI) Minister of State for Human Resource Development D Purandareswari is leading India's delegation in the 16th Conference of Commonwealth Educational Ministers in Cape Town, South Africa starting today.

The four-day meet centred on 'Promoting access to Quality Education: For the Good of All' will be attended by Education Ministers from 53 Commonwealth member countries, an official statement said.

The participant Ministers will address a range of issues of access and quality of education in Commonwealth nations.

The last meeting was held in Edinburgh, Scotland in 2003.

The discussions will be held in four segments: the Ministerial Conference, the Teachers Forum, the Youth Forum and the Stakeholders Forum.

The Education Ministerial Conference will focus on giving children and youth in Commonwealth countries access to quality education.

The meet will conclude with a Cape Town Communique summarising key priorities in addressing access to quality education and set implementation targets.

The Stakeholders Forum will be open among others to representatives of Commonwealth academic institutions, non-governmental organisations and the private sector.

The Youth Forum building on the first youth summit held at Edinburgh in 2003 will focus on the Commonwealth youth who will describe how they are affected by Access and Quality issues.

Their conclusions will be presented to the participant ministers.

The inaugural Teachers Forum is a new addition to hear teachers and their representatives on those issues.

UNI MJ RR BD2103