8 July 2011 – Government officials at a United Nations meeting in Geneva today called for the boosting of efforts to ensure education for all, stressing the fundamental role it plays in creating an inclusive society, reducing poverty and achieving sustainable development.

“We recognize that providing quality education for children, youth and adults helps to develop the knowledge and skills that people and countries need to flourish, and that additional measures are required to improve the quality of education,” they stated in a declaration adopted at the end of the high-level segment of the annual session of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).

“Education for all” was the focus of the high-level meeting, which brought together top UN officials, government ministers, experts and policy-makers to Geneva to discuss how to ensure that everyone has access to a decent education.

“Our focus this week on the importance of education outcomes has been timely,” Lazarous Kapambwe, the President of ECOSOC, said in his closing statement. “It is no longer merely about increasing enrolment numbers or inputs; ensuring quality, relevance and equity is equally critical.

Mr. Kapambwe and other senior UN officials hailed the declaration – adopted unanimously by the 54-member Council at the end of the week-long meeting – which outlines measures to accelerate progress towards achieving the goal of education for all.

The Education for All goals were agreed to by more than 160 countries at the World Education Forum in 2000 in Dakar, Senegal, with the aim of achieving 100 per cent child enrolment in primary schools by 2015. Improving access to education is also one of the eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) world leaders have pledged to achieve by 2015.

“This declaration not only promotes consensus on issues ranging from the importance of education for health literacy and the need for gender-sensitive curricula, but also contains concrete measures to advance progress on the education goals,” said Mr. Kapambwe.

Sha Zukang, Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs, called the declaration a “remarkable” document – one which addresses important areas such as educational access, quality, funding and partnerships.

“The declaration is a model document in other ways too,” he told the meeting. “It navigates the considerable educational challenges of the moment, while casting a thoughtful eye to emerging issues on the horizon – areas like secondary and tertiary education, information technology and lifelong learning.”

He stressed the power of education, saying it “empowers individuals, molds better citizens and creates more just, prosperous societies.

“But make no mistake: enrolment alone is not learning. What goes on in the classroom is ultimately what counts. In order to maximize the benefits of schooling, we must reflect long and hard on what we teach our children – and how,” he stated.

The declaration, said the head of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), notes the importance of moving beyond the MDG of universal primary education in favour of a more “holistic and inclusive vision” of education systems.

“This declaration represents a clear recognition by Member States of the central role that education plays in driving social and economic development,” Director-General Irina Bokova stated. “I am confident that the vision expressed in this document will be a powerful lever for mobilizing resources and accelerating progress towards Education for All.”

The contribution offered by New Future Foundation was to seek out ways of applying non-traditional education methods related to technology. The many technologies that are used in distance education and e-learning support a asynchronous learning format, which is a student-centered teaching method that uses online and electronic learning resources to facilitate information sharing outside the constraints of time and place. The e-learning methodology and processes include web-based learning, computer-based learning, virtual education, and digital collaboration. These methods can facilitate education for not only the youth, but the training of teachers as well. Continued professional development, in-service seminars, and other pedagogy oriented to creating first class instructors, can become available in developing nations where the persons assisting won’t have to disrupt their own activities to travel. This model opens up the opportunity for participation from people and organizations previously unable to assist because of the challenges presented by distance or travel.

These distance learning and e-learning methods should not eradicate the value of the traditional class setting and a good book. New Future Foundation’s vision is firm in that we seek to ensure the continued development of sophistication and adept deployment of our society’s values. We recognize that in developing countries the availability of electricity and personal technology will be limited, which is why a hybrid/blended approach is so important.

This conference is held every ten years and allows for the role of private sector investments in the LDCs to propel the realization of the development objectives. In the past ten years, the United Nations has increasingly engaged the private sector as a partner, recognizing that capacity building and effective partnerships are the solution for these complex issues. Across the UN System, private sector collaboration has become a common and effective way of advancing societal goals at both the global and local levels.

The New Future Foundation’s delegation headed by Queen Mother Dr Blakely was present and represented by our members of African nations.

New Future Foundation being a multi-cultural organization with strong ties to the asian community in New York City, was a proud sponsor of this event. The Chinese Planning Council was a huge supporter and collaborator with NFF during the early days of our outreach programs with the youth. Notable attendees including Queen Mother Dr. Blakely were representatives from the office of John C Liu the New York City Comptroller, representatives from City council member Margaret Chin’s office, and congressman Edolphus Towns who was honored by the students. The Brenda Pillors Asthma Education Program, a new program for the LIU’s Brooklyn Campus will provide free services for the Brooklyn community, and was made possible by $355,000 appropriation secured by Congressman Ed Towns in 2008.

“Asthma is a serious health condition that disproportionately impacts residents of Brooklyn,” said Congressman Towns. “Long Island University has made an invaluable contribution to Brooklyn through its launch of the Brenda Pillors Asthma Education Program, and I am truly moved that it chose to honor my former chief of staff, Brenda Pillors, who passed away from asthma-related complications, by naming the program after her.”