Date: 04/11/2002
Source: Ministry of Education
Title: Asmal: Inauguration of partners of SA National Commission for Unesco
SPEECH BY THE MINISTER OF EDUCATION, PROFESSOR KADER ASMAL, AT THE INAUGURATION OF THE FIRST GROUP OF COOPERATING ORGANISATIONS OF THE SECOND SOUTH AFRICAN NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR UNESCO, Burgerspark Hotel, Pretoria, 4 November 2002.
Ladies and gentlemen.
I warm-heartedly, welcome you on this special day for Unesco. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco), was founded today, fifty-six years ago, on the 4th of November 1946. The foundation of Unesco is based on the premise that " since wars begin in the minds of men (and women), it is in the minds of men (and women) that the defences of peace must be constructed". This pre-amble to Unesco's constitution, go on to say that and that peace, if it is not to fail, must be founded upon the "intellectual and moral solidarity of mankind"
Only those countries, and let me add, those organisations like yourselves, whose prime purpose and essence of existence are based on the pillars of PEACE, only they can become members of Unesco.
It is hardly a year since I welcomed new members of the South African National Commission for Unesco to serve the structure of the Commission, but more so, to serve the interests of our country and our continent. At this meeting, I drew a parallel between the wonderful constitution of our country and articles from the Unesco constitution, particularly Article 1 of UNESCO and our Bill of Rights in Article 7 of our Constitution. Today, members of our civil society are responding to this call for alignment to the high ideals of PEACE and we congratulate you for that initiative.
The Constitution of the National Commission stipulates that organisations whose objectives support the objectives of Unesco shall be entitled to apply for recognition as Co-operating Organisations and the Commission, through the secretariat, may recommend these organisations to the president of the commission, the minister of eucation for such recognition. The selection process is subject to stringent criteria and each chairperson of Unesco's field of competency within the commission; assess the suitability of each applicant.
To determine the suitability of such organisations for recognition, their constitutions, visions, missions and objectives, were judged on the basis of criteria as stipulated in the constitution of the Commission. Their policies had to be consistent with the South African Constitution, support Unesco's objectives; they should be prepared to serve the national and international corporation processes, share data, information and experience to the mutual benefit of other organisations and the Commission.
Out of a total number of 45 organisations that applied, 35 were approved. This gives us a total of 149 organisations in South Africa, excluding universities who are linked to the Commission as partners. This is remarkable and commendable. When considering that South Africa joined Unesco after an absence of almost forty years we are on the high road of success to implement key elements of our important and unique Constitution. Thank you for responding to this call.
When you look at each field of competency at Unesco and juxtapose that with our national priorities you will notice some striking similarities with our national action plans. In education, for example, Unesco emphasises the need for basic education for all and for countries to meet the commitments of the Dakar World Education Forum. Unesco coordinates and facilitates the follow-up of the Dakar Framework of Action and strives to strengthen inclusive approaches and diversifying delivery system. We have already taken these initiatives through various projects in the national education department, for example, inclusive education and ICT strategy in education some time ago. We are now finalising our national action plans in Education For All, which we will present in December this year. Unesco encourages countries to build knowledge societies through quality education and a renewal of education systems. We are busy with the important process of transforming our higher education system precisely to meet this requirement.
Let me assure you that we have consulted extensively on this matter. I repeat our commitment to ensure that after this threshold period in the transformation process of our education system we are going to emerge as victors and not as victims. The country needs creativity from organizations that can take it upon themselves to ensure that we use our resources optimally for current and future needs. Why should we keep obsolete curriculum if it does not address the needs of all citizens of South Africa? This is a technological world and we need to keep abreast with global changes. Unesco Commission is our link to this international village.
The science sector of Unsco addresses the need for science and technology capacity building and management. This include follow-up to the world conference on science regarding policy-making processes and science education. It covers science, environment and sustainable development, water interactions, systems at risk and social changes, ecological sciences, corporation in earth sciences and natural hazards reduction and the Unesco intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission issues.
A cross-cutting theme is the eradication of poverty, especially extreme poverty. Poverty is a denial of a basic human rights and is today of concern to all societies. The injustices, exclusions, deprivations and inequalities that poverty and especially extreme poverty engenders and above all their causes, must effectively be dealt with if social justice and cohesion, economic and social progress, democracy and ultimately PEACE are to be further strengthened.
Early this year we had Dr Pierre Sane, from the Unesco social and human sciences sector in Paris, visiting us. The purpose of the visit was to consider the establishment of the social and human sciences sector in South Africa. This sector will deal with ethics of science and technology and the promotion of human rights, peace and democratic principles. We will then strive to the improvement of policies relating to social transformations and promotion of anticipation and prospective studies.
In the coming years, Unesco will focus on cultural heritage in all its aspects, the protection of cultural diversity and the promotion of pluralism and dialogue between cultures and civilisations, which are precious values enshrined in the freedom charter of the African National Congress (ANC). Unesco is mandated to ensure the reinforcement of normative action in the field of culture by:
(i) Promoting the convention concerning the protection of the world cultural and natural heritage
(ii) Meeting new demands in the area of standard setting
iii) Safeguarding and revitalising the tangible and intangible cultural heritage
(iv) Promoting cultural pluralism and intercultural dialogue
Communication and information have become major issues for most of the peoples and nations of our planet, not only as they affect development and peace, but also as they contribute to the construction of a more just society with stronger ties of solidarity. Emphasis is put on promoting equitable access to information and knowledge, especially in the public domain by:
(i) Formulating principles, policies and strategies to widen access to information and knowledge
ii) Developing an infrastructure and building capacities for increased participation in the knowledge society
In closing, I would like to thank the Commission for living up to their promise of service delivery to serve the nation. The secretariat have now established a website which enable easy access to Unesco information, they have forged partnerships with the National Commissions of Unesco from Germany and Romania respectively during the World Summit on Sustainable Development. The German Commission committed itself to partner with South Africa in the establishment of their effective Local Community Development Centres and they donated two science kits which can run about 30 experiments each, even in a rural setting. The Romanian Commission undertook to invite the South African youth to their regular summer camps where practical life skills can be shared. They also undertook to corporate with us in the establishment of a prize for the local communities to present objects of Arts and culture to the local museums. The SADC youth movement on the other hand, undertook to work closely with the commission in educating the youth on NEPAD through the Department of Education. I hope the new organisations will contribute new ideas using the Commission as a vehicle.
I thank you
Issued by Ministry of Education
4 November 2002
Source: Ministry of Education
Title: Asmal: Inauguration of partners of SA National Commission for Unesco
SPEECH BY THE MINISTER OF EDUCATION, PROFESSOR KADER ASMAL, AT THE INAUGURATION OF THE FIRST GROUP OF COOPERATING ORGANISATIONS OF THE SECOND SOUTH AFRICAN NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR UNESCO, Burgerspark Hotel, Pretoria, 4 November 2002.
Ladies and gentlemen.
I warm-heartedly, welcome you on this special day for Unesco. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco), was founded today, fifty-six years ago, on the 4th of November 1946. The foundation of Unesco is based on the premise that " since wars begin in the minds of men (and women), it is in the minds of men (and women) that the defences of peace must be constructed". This pre-amble to Unesco's constitution, go on to say that and that peace, if it is not to fail, must be founded upon the "intellectual and moral solidarity of mankind"
Only those countries, and let me add, those organisations like yourselves, whose prime purpose and essence of existence are based on the pillars of PEACE, only they can become members of Unesco.
It is hardly a year since I welcomed new members of the South African National Commission for Unesco to serve the structure of the Commission, but more so, to serve the interests of our country and our continent. At this meeting, I drew a parallel between the wonderful constitution of our country and articles from the Unesco constitution, particularly Article 1 of UNESCO and our Bill of Rights in Article 7 of our Constitution. Today, members of our civil society are responding to this call for alignment to the high ideals of PEACE and we congratulate you for that initiative.
The Constitution of the National Commission stipulates that organisations whose objectives support the objectives of Unesco shall be entitled to apply for recognition as Co-operating Organisations and the Commission, through the secretariat, may recommend these organisations to the president of the commission, the minister of eucation for such recognition. The selection process is subject to stringent criteria and each chairperson of Unesco's field of competency within the commission; assess the suitability of each applicant.
To determine the suitability of such organisations for recognition, their constitutions, visions, missions and objectives, were judged on the basis of criteria as stipulated in the constitution of the Commission. Their policies had to be consistent with the South African Constitution, support Unesco's objectives; they should be prepared to serve the national and international corporation processes, share data, information and experience to the mutual benefit of other organisations and the Commission.
Out of a total number of 45 organisations that applied, 35 were approved. This gives us a total of 149 organisations in South Africa, excluding universities who are linked to the Commission as partners. This is remarkable and commendable. When considering that South Africa joined Unesco after an absence of almost forty years we are on the high road of success to implement key elements of our important and unique Constitution. Thank you for responding to this call.
When you look at each field of competency at Unesco and juxtapose that with our national priorities you will notice some striking similarities with our national action plans. In education, for example, Unesco emphasises the need for basic education for all and for countries to meet the commitments of the Dakar World Education Forum. Unesco coordinates and facilitates the follow-up of the Dakar Framework of Action and strives to strengthen inclusive approaches and diversifying delivery system. We have already taken these initiatives through various projects in the national education department, for example, inclusive education and ICT strategy in education some time ago. We are now finalising our national action plans in Education For All, which we will present in December this year. Unesco encourages countries to build knowledge societies through quality education and a renewal of education systems. We are busy with the important process of transforming our higher education system precisely to meet this requirement.
Let me assure you that we have consulted extensively on this matter. I repeat our commitment to ensure that after this threshold period in the transformation process of our education system we are going to emerge as victors and not as victims. The country needs creativity from organizations that can take it upon themselves to ensure that we use our resources optimally for current and future needs. Why should we keep obsolete curriculum if it does not address the needs of all citizens of South Africa? This is a technological world and we need to keep abreast with global changes. Unesco Commission is our link to this international village.
The science sector of Unsco addresses the need for science and technology capacity building and management. This include follow-up to the world conference on science regarding policy-making processes and science education. It covers science, environment and sustainable development, water interactions, systems at risk and social changes, ecological sciences, corporation in earth sciences and natural hazards reduction and the Unesco intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission issues.
A cross-cutting theme is the eradication of poverty, especially extreme poverty. Poverty is a denial of a basic human rights and is today of concern to all societies. The injustices, exclusions, deprivations and inequalities that poverty and especially extreme poverty engenders and above all their causes, must effectively be dealt with if social justice and cohesion, economic and social progress, democracy and ultimately PEACE are to be further strengthened.
Early this year we had Dr Pierre Sane, from the Unesco social and human sciences sector in Paris, visiting us. The purpose of the visit was to consider the establishment of the social and human sciences sector in South Africa. This sector will deal with ethics of science and technology and the promotion of human rights, peace and democratic principles. We will then strive to the improvement of policies relating to social transformations and promotion of anticipation and prospective studies.
In the coming years, Unesco will focus on cultural heritage in all its aspects, the protection of cultural diversity and the promotion of pluralism and dialogue between cultures and civilisations, which are precious values enshrined in the freedom charter of the African National Congress (ANC). Unesco is mandated to ensure the reinforcement of normative action in the field of culture by:
(i) Promoting the convention concerning the protection of the world cultural and natural heritage
(ii) Meeting new demands in the area of standard setting
iii) Safeguarding and revitalising the tangible and intangible cultural heritage
(iv) Promoting cultural pluralism and intercultural dialogue
Communication and information have become major issues for most of the peoples and nations of our planet, not only as they affect development and peace, but also as they contribute to the construction of a more just society with stronger ties of solidarity. Emphasis is put on promoting equitable access to information and knowledge, especially in the public domain by:
(i) Formulating principles, policies and strategies to widen access to information and knowledge
ii) Developing an infrastructure and building capacities for increased participation in the knowledge society
In closing, I would like to thank the Commission for living up to their promise of service delivery to serve the nation. The secretariat have now established a website which enable easy access to Unesco information, they have forged partnerships with the National Commissions of Unesco from Germany and Romania respectively during the World Summit on Sustainable Development. The German Commission committed itself to partner with South Africa in the establishment of their effective Local Community Development Centres and they donated two science kits which can run about 30 experiments each, even in a rural setting. The Romanian Commission undertook to invite the South African youth to their regular summer camps where practical life skills can be shared. They also undertook to corporate with us in the establishment of a prize for the local communities to present objects of Arts and culture to the local museums. The SADC youth movement on the other hand, undertook to work closely with the commission in educating the youth on NEPAD through the Department of Education. I hope the new organisations will contribute new ideas using the Commission as a vehicle.
I thank you
Issued by Ministry of Education
4 November 2002
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