A regional conference in Qatar on "Literacy Challenges in the Arab States: Building Partnerships and Promoting Innovative Approaches"
First Lady of Azerbaijan, President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, Goodwill Ambassador of UNESCO and ISESCO Mehriban Aliyeva attended the regional conference 'Literacy Challenges in the Arab States: Building Partnerships and Promoting Innovative Approaches' organized by UNESCO and Science, Education and Community Development Foundation of Qatar.
First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva addressed the conference.
Speech by Mehriban Aliyeva:
Your Majesties,
Your Excellencies,
Ladies and gentlemen!
First of all, I congratulate First Lady of Qatar, Her Majesty Sheikha Moza and Director General of UNESCO Mr Koichiro Matsuura for joint initiatives in organizing the regional conference in Doha, express my gratitude for invitation to attend such an important forum.
This conference is dedicated to education issues. But of course, it is directly linked to the global problems the universe is facing.
Big discrepancy among nations and countries in field of opportunity of receiving education and level of literacy is the main reason to existing delicate problems. Except countries where economic growth is accompanied by development of education, science and culture, there are also such countries where people cannot get primary education.
According to the statistics, 100 mln boys and girls are deprived of opportunity to go to the school, nearly 800 mln of the elderly population worldwide cannot read and write.
On this point, I would like to emphasize activity of UNESCO towards supporting the global literacy, as well plans of this organization concerning assurance of opportunity to all countries and nations to receive open and equal education. World Conference 'Education for All' and regional meetings and conferences held after that are the best samples to the possibility of gradually removing a number of problems disturbing us.
It is natural that such conference is held in Qatar that is very dynamically developing country not only in Middle East but all over the world. Qatar is the nicest model today for accompaniment of economic progress by development of education and science. Education infrastructure of Qatar has developed in all levels within short time. Tens of new schools have been opened.
Creation of 'Education City' where world-famous universities conduct studies and teach the students is very successful project carried out in time.
As result of implementation of all these reforms Qatar is becoming special center in entire Arab world for science and culture.
Dear friends!
With great pleasure I would to say the next regional conference on education problems will be held in Azerbaijan in spring 2008.
Azerbaijan's economy is developing with the highest speed worldwide. GDP increased in 2005 26%, this figure was 34% in 2006. This year too we will keep the same level to some extent.
For several years we carried out reforms in our education system. We aim to create contemporary education system meeting world standards and based on modern technologies.
In XX century Azerbaijan was obliged to change its alphabet for three times. However, level of illiteracy in our country is too low. 98% of population can write and read. Constitution of Azerbaijan guarantees the right of every citizen to receive 11-year compulsory education.
State program for development of education system in Azerbaijan was successfully performed. A number of new schools are built and completely supplied with appliances and computers. All schools are modernized and restored. Over 700 new school buildings were built in all the country for last 3 years.
All this are parts of State Programme for use of oil revenues in non-oil sector of economy and I think, investment made in education serves the future and our future generations.
Biggest problem of Azerbaijan is that 20% of our territory is under occupation for more than 15 years by Armenia. As result of this 1 million Azerbaijanis are refugee and IDP. Some of them are settled in refugee camps. We try to inform the international community of this reality. Despite these difficulties, the government tries to provide good education to the refugees and IDPs.
I also want to say a few words about Heydar Aliyev Foundation. This Foundation was established in May 2004 and aims to support different projects carried out in field of education, science, culture, health and environment.
From its establishment Heydar Aliyev Foundation has done many works in field of propaganda of cultural heritage and development of education in our country. In frame of our Programme 'New School to New Azerbaijan' over 200 school buildings were constructed and fully equipped. Several of them were built in remotest villages. We pay special attention to education of children living in children homes. Buildings they live were modernized, supplied with computers and libraries. In frame of the joint project we implement with UNDP a special education center equipped with audio library was built in Baku for visually impaired children.
Our Foundation has very close ties with international organizations, in particular with UNESCO and ISESCO. On this point, I think UNESCO Regional Center for Education Issues can be founded in Azerbaijan and in this institution working group on 'Education for All' Programme can hold meetings and discuss progress in this field.
In conclusion, I would like to say Azerbaijan, located in center of Great Silk Road, was bridge from the ancient times between East and West. Now, we are ready to play again the role of bridge of education and culture.
I express my gratitude to organizers of the Conference - UNESCO and Science, Education and Community Development Foundation of Qatar for such an important event and very warm hospitality, wish you success and fruitful actions.