The smallest country can be as strong as the biggest ones, if its peoples realize their rights and are able to defend them.
Heydar Aliyev
UNESCO’s 5th regional conference ends
The 5th regional conference ‘Addressing Literacy Challenges in Europe with Sub-Regional Focus: Building Partnerships and Promoting Innovative Approaches’ held in Baku by UNESCO, Heydar Aliyev Foundation and the Ministry of Education of Azerbaijan ended on May 16.
The conference was continued in the first half of the day by Round Table ‘Pedagogical approaches: Development of high quality basis training’.
Opening the discussions Director of UNESCO Moscow Office Marc Richmond said the first condition to assure the high quality primary education is literacy, specialists well trained by adult primary education and professional training programs. But in many cases training is held shortly and superficially. Another necessary issue is the lesson program. To make high quality lesson programs the needs of pupils must be analyzed first.
Making speech on the theme ‘Study on adult literacy pedagogy: National study and training center for teaching adults writing, reading and computing’ John Vorhauz from England said quality of learning and fruitful use of pedagogical experience must be considered as the major factors in removal of illiteracy. According to him, studies conducted in 2001 among those learning English as the second language showed that methods of learning must include modern elements to assure success in this field for short time.
Director of Hamburg Institute of Adult Education Nusl fon Ekkekhard, Eva Prjibilska from Poland talked of importance of realization of various projects to pout an end to illiteracy, assure rapider integration of people, also migrants into the society.
Dean of the English Language Faculty of Azerbaijan Languages University Afgan Abdullayev delivered speech on methods used to assure high quality learning. To him, Azerbaijan is in the 15th place among 177countries for degree of literacy of people aged above 15.
The second Round Table, which was led by delegate of the Council of Europe Caesar Birze, was themed ‘Meeting the new requirements and creation of the integrated training opportunities systems’. President of Adult Education Association Federation of Serbia Katarina Popovich, Lorenz Lassnig from Austria, Deputy Director of Adult Education Federation of Switzerland Rut Jermann, Victor Bolotov from Russia gave speech in the Round Table.
In his presentation themed ‘Opportunities of education directed to stable results for refugees and IDPs: Cooperation of governmental, non-governmental organizations and private sectors’ Academician of the National Academy of Sciences of Azerbaijan Urkhan Elekberov emphasized services of Heydar Aliyev Foundation in fighting the illiteracy in the country, mentioned huge importance of literacy for promotion of democracy.
Speakers stressed necessity for wide approach to the illiteracy problem, noted main guarantors in realization of literacy must be state and NGOs. Major problem in European countries is lack of the coordinated system for education opportunities. Solution of illiteracy problem will stimulate firm cooperation among European countries.
Deputy Director General of UNESCO for Education Nicholas Boernet expressed gratitude to Mrs Mehriban Aliyeva, President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, UNESCO and ISESCO Goodwill Ambassador, for support to the conference.
Final recommendations of the conference were adopted, necessity for propaganda of them all over the world underlined.
Addressing the ceremony of closing of the conference Education Minister of Azerbaijan Misir Merdanov expressed gratitude to UNESCO and Heydar Aliyev Foundation. Noting big importance of the conference for Azerbaijan the Minister said the event will inspire further improvement of education reforms carried out in the country.
