| Foreword by
the South African Minister of Education, Prof. Kader Asmal, MP
It gives me great pleasure to welcome you
to the All-Africa Ministers’ Conference on Open Learning and Distance
Education. I believe that we are afforded with a meaningful opportunity to
focus our attention on issues that will have a significant impact on the
future of human development on our continent for the 21st Century.
In Africa, as in the rest of the world, we
are witnessing the increased democratisation of nations. This, in turn,
necessitates higher levels of human development and greater understanding
of economic, political and social issues in order that people can
genuinely exercise their democratic rights. At the same time, the
increasing globalisation of the world economy makes it imperative for
Africa to raise its education and skills levels in order to be both
competitive and relevant. It is through greater access to learning that we
in Africa can respond to escalating poverty levels, underdevelopment and
the continued marginalisation of our continent. |
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Open learning and distance education approaches
are potentially the most viable means available to increase access to learning
and at the same time, increase the quality of that learning. Through increased
access to quality learning, we are offered an opportunity to move from a culture
of schooling, with its inherent spacial and temporal limitations, towards a
culture of learning. In so doing, it may become possible to promote life-long
learning, individual responsibility and, ultimately, empowerment.
I believe that this conference offers us an
occasion to invigorate our thinking and consider fresh approaches to the major
challenge of developing our human potential in Africa, which is the basis of
NEPAD’s approach. I therefore wish you well throughout these deliberations and
trust that you will return to your countries with fresh insights and renewed
inspiration to create greater access to educational opportunities for all our
people.
Finally, I would like to thank our co-host,
UNESCO, and our partners, the Commonwealth of Learning, Department for
International Development (DfID), the World Bank, Swiss Development Cooperation
and World Space, for the support they have offered to make this important event
possible.
Professor Kader Asmal, MP
Minister of Education,
South Africa
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Message by Mr Koïchiro Matsuura,
Director-General of UNESCO, to
the All African
Ministers of Education Conference on Open Learning and Distance Education
|
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I am very glad that South Africa has taken
the lead in convening a Conference of Ministers of Education from all countries
of the African continent to discuss the prospects of ‘Transforming Education
for a New Africa’ and the potential role of open learning and distance
education in that transformation.
In
recent times, we have enjoyed seeing several new initiatives, especially those
focused on the African Union, NEPAD, MINEDAF and other vehicles of solidarity
and joint action, amplify the new spirit of shared determination through which
Africa can shape its own destiny and that of its nations and peoples.
Education
is the key instrument that can help Africa and its people realize their full
potential. More than ever before, Africa needs to reassess the goals and
priorities of its educational systems and make human development the main focus
of all of its new initiatives. Traditional approaches and practices can no
longer respond to the enormity of current problems. Improved strategies, better
implementation methods and greater commitment to end-results – these are the
way forward.
Distance
education and open learning have proven their usefulness the world over,
especially in developing countries. Africa can benefit a great deal if it can
adapt these methods and approaches in ways that suit its own genius. The
Conference that you are organizing could provide just that opportunity, and a
new beginning.
UNESCO
is happy to associate itself with the Conference and, on its behalf, I wish you
every success in your deliberations.
Koïchiro
Matsuura