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

involving young people in heritage protection. Of course, Latvia is also interested in the UNESCO education
programme, especially in reforming higher education in cooperation with the Latvian Academy of Sciences and
the University of Latvia. Our scientists have successfully joined the UNESCO science programme.
9.8 Distinguished delegates, we are faced with the emergence of a global information society, which can
deeply affect inter-human relations and cause an additional widening of technology gap. However, we are
inclined to turn it into an asset. Therefore, we fully support UNESCO’s programmes, which stimulate the
transition from a post-industrial to an information society.
9.9 Madam President, Mr Director-General, distinguished delegates and guests of the General Conference,
we are witnesses of a process never yet experienced in history - the creation of a new Europe, which to our mind
deserves special attention from the world organization for intellectual cooperation. And let me assure you that its
decades-long experience fills us with confidence. Thank you for your attention.
10. The PRESIDENT:
I should very much like to thank Her Excellency Ms Karina Pétersone, Minister of Culture of Latvia. I
assure her that, being from the same part of the world, she has my full understanding. I am glad she mentioned
the role of young people and that they should be encouraged to protect the cultural heritage. That of course is
also a question of education. I now call the next speaker on my list, His Excellency Dr Davidson Hepburn,
Chairman of the National Commission for UNESCO, who will speak on behalf of the Minister of State for
Education of the Bahamas. Sir, you have the floor.
11.1 Mr HEPBURN (Bahamas):
Madam President, Mr Director-General, distinguished delegates, the Bahamas delegation is grateful for
this opportunity to address the 30th session of the General Conference, and to convey our support for the
philosophy and work of UNESCO in the region. I am particularly honoured this morning to bring greetings from
the Honourable Minister for Education and Culture of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas, and on her behalf, the
Bahamas delegation and myself extend warm congratulations to you on your election to this prestigious post and
to wish you a successful conclusion to the General Conference.
11.2 Madam President, the Bahamas continues to have as its priority the provision of basic education for all,
based on the principle of “inclusive schooling”, including early childhood education, special needs education and
innovative workplace and community-based programmes geared to the empowerment of young people and adults
alike. While all children between the ages of 5 and 16 years have access to schooling, and opportunities exist for
post-secondary education on a selective basis, the Bahamas needs to pay greater attention to equity and quality of
education so as to empower all of our citizens, especially those living in many of our more less developed
“family” islands. Following on the Jomtien Conference of 1990, special focus has been given to a number of
crucial issues: science and technology, the environment, improving the quality of education, improving school
supervision and the status of teachers, and distance education.
11.3 One of our specific goals as we approach the new millennium is to increase the scientific knowledge and
technological skills of our citizens. It pleases us, therefore, to note from document 30 C/5, inter alia, that the
provision of basic education for all, as well as literacy and basic skills training for young people and adults, will
continue to receive the highest priority. To successfully meet the challenges of the future and to adequately
prepare our people for an era of phenomenal scientific and technological advances, we have undertaken a number
of initiatives on the basis of science and technology, scientific knowledge, technical and vocational education and
adult literacy. In the area of science, the Bahamas has been vigorously involved in activities that support
cooperation with international partners and allow for regional strengthening and networking. We have
participated in the Associated Schools Project network through a Caribbean Sea regional essay competition, a
science and technology exhibition for primary students and the hosting of a subregional meeting for national
coordinators.
11.4 Madam President, we have maintained networks with local educational entities and continued our
regional partnerships with the University of the West Indies, the National Institute of Higher Education,
Research, Science and Technology, the Commonwealth Association of Science, Technology and Math
Educators, and the Caribbean Council, promoting a culture of peace and raising the environmental awareness of
the school and the wider community. If the region is to continue to promote an integrated approach to the
environment and use science for the service of development, a greater percentage of funds should be
decentralized to the region to make this possible.
11.5 In the area of capacity-building and education for sustainable development, for example, we have
embarked on a national literacy and community education programme which would foster in our youth and adult
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