UNESCO. General Conference; 30th; Records ... - unesdoc - Unesco

(32.4) Not wishing to be taken unawares, and in anticipation of what education and preparation for life are
likely to entail in the coming century, Tunisia, at the initiative of His Excellency the President of the Republic, has
undertaken an in-depth, systematic exploration of the concept of the renewal of the mission of schools in the light
of scientific, technological and economic change, with a view to being ready for whatever the future may bring. We
have already undertaken the work of renewal by connecting all secondary-level and intermediate-level schools to
the Internet, and are in the process of doing the same for primary schools. There can be no doubt, ladies and
gentlemen, that in coming years the future of schools will constitute a battleground between countries competing to
occupy advantageous positions in the arena of globalization. The outcome of that battle may be the creation of
critical disparities between education systems which until only a short time ago were quite similar in terms of their
objectives, facilities and curricula. Owing to this situation, our Organization must bear a new responsibility, one
which it must not neglect, as otherwise the gap between peoples will become deeper, some increasing in strength
while others are left behind.
(32.5) Madam President, ladies and gentlemen, owing to scientific change and the side effects of globalization,
culture has become an essential issue of major significance for all peoples. Tunisia, as a country characterized by
the cross-fertilization of ancient civilizations and the mixing of diverse cultures, regards culture as being of the
utmost importance, aware as we are of the importance of culture as a factor in the preservation of our identity.
Tunisia’s cultural project rests on the twin bases of the retention of its national, personal elements and interaction
with the universal culture, insofar as the latter bears human values and ideals to the establishment and
consolidation of which all civilizations have contributed. In order to ensure that the resources required for the
flourishing of an innovative culture are available, His Excellency the President of the Republic has directed that the
State budget for culture is to be doubled as from the year 2000. The same applies to the budget for scientific
research and investigation: for the first time in our country’s history, that budget is to be multiplied by two, in
terms of gross domestic product.
(32.6) Madam President, ladies and gentlemen, as a result of the changes imposed by globalization and the
opening of national economies, many States are now facing difficult circumstances that threaten the fabric of their
societies. Their situation may become serious in the absence of some form of solidarity that will afford a means of
circumscribing the negative impact of these changes. Development that takes place at the expense of the human and
social dimension must, by definition, be unsound. Aware as it is of these challenges, Tunisia has set to work to fan
the flame of solidarity by choosing the way of social inclusiveness: development must benefit all Tunisians and all
regions of the country. On the strength of this pioneering experiment, His Excellency the President of the Republic
has called on the international community to give material form to the values of solidarity and mutual assistance
between peoples by establishing a “World Solidarity Fund”, to be financed by voluntary contributions, with a view
to enabling the international community to intervene to ensure that poor peoples do not become even poorer.
Surely there could be no more appropriate organization than UNESCO, the conscience of the world, to adopt this
initiative and contribute to making it a reality.
(32.7) Madam President, ladies and gentlemen, in the years that lie ahead our Organization will be confronted
with the task of renewing its mission and developing appropriate tools and methods of action without renouncing
the principles and values that have guided it since its inception. The challenge that faces us is how to prevent
competition between peoples from degenerating into a mutually destructive catastrophe. We bear the responsibility
of ensuring that the diversity of cultures is preserved from the danger represented by a culture that seeks dominance
and hegemony. The soundest way to build a shared future for humanity is to take the road that leads through
diversity of cultures and identities, with dialogue among them. I am confident that this will not be a difficult task
for such an experienced organization as UNESCO. Thank you.
33. The PRESIDENT:
Thank you, Your Excellency the Minister for Education of Tunisia. I congratulate you on your efforts
and on the steps you are taking and envy the amount your government can and does spend on education. I now
call the next speaker, His Excellency Dr Ali Abdul Aziz Al Sharhan, Minister for Education and Youth of the
United Arab Emirates. Your Excellency, you have the floor.
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