Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some of the most commonly asked
questions ...
If you have any more, e-mail us.
What is UNESCO?
UNESCO is the United Nations Educational,
Scientific and Cultural Organization.
The main objective of UNESCO is to contribute to peace and security in the
world by promoting collaboration among nations through education, science,
culture and communication in order to further universal respect for justice,
for the rule of law and for the human rights and fundamental freedoms which
are affirmed for the peoples of the world, without distinction of race, sex,
language or religion, by the Charter
of the United Nations.
UNESCO's constitution
was adopted by the London Conference in November 1945, and entered into effect
on the 4th of November 1946 when 20 states had deposited instruments of
acceptance. It currently has 186 Member
States.
To know more
about UNESCO...
What is MINEDAF VII?
UNESCO has organized seven conferences of Ministers of
Education of African Member States (MINEDAF) since 1961.
MINEDAF VII is the Seventh Conference of Ministers of
Education of African Member States held in Durban, South Africa, on 20-24 April
1998.
MINEDAF VII stands both for the Network of Ministers supported by UNESCO and
its Programme of work in
follow up to the decisions of the Durban Conference.
Previous MINEDAF conferences
were held in Addis Ababa (1961);
Abidjan
(1964); Nairobi (1968);
Lagos (1976) ;
Harare (1982);
and Dakar (1991).
The MINEDAF Network of Ministers has played a significant role in the development of education on
the continent. Final reports of the conferences are
available for download at the MINEDAF Document Service.
MINEDAF VII brought together some 500 participants
--- representatives of African Member States, non-governmental organizations
and United Nations agencies, including ECA [United
Nations Economic Commission for Africa]. Thirty-nine delegations of
the Member States were led by Ministers.
The actions agreed by African Ministers are summarized in the Durban
Statement of Commitment, approved by acclamation. Like the previous
conferences, the Durban Conference emphasized inter-African co-operation.
Ministers identified the following priority areas for
co-operation:
- exchanges of practical policy experiences;
- sharing of expertise and existing educational infrastructures, especially in higher
education;
- establishment of Fellowship Banks;
- joint production and exchange of educational materials, including science kits and equipment;
- funding for joint initiatives;
- establishment of databanks of African experts and expertise; and
- identification of African programmes and
centres of excellence.
The Durban conference established an Intergovernmental
Committee to ensure follow up to the decisions of the Conference and
requested UNESCO to provide a Secretariat for
the Committee.
Where is MINEDAF VII located?
The Secretariat of
the Intergovernmental Committee is presently based at the UNESCO
Regional Office in Dakar, Senegal.
The Durban
Statement of Commitment provides the general framework for the programme
of work pursued by UNESCO in follow-up to decisions of MINEDAF VII. The specific programme of work,
however, is decided by an Intergovernmental
Committee, presently comprising the Ministers of Education of nine African
Member States:
South Africa - President
Algeria, Cameroon; Guinea-Bissau, Libya; Nigeria;
Rwanda, Uganda Vice-Presidents
Madagascar, Rapporteur
Members of the Intergovernmental Committee act
on behalf of the wider body of African
Ministers of Education. The Secretariat is responsible
for the execution of the Programme
and for providing technical support to the Committee.
What can MINEDAF VII do for you?
This UNESCO Web site of African Ministers of Education is a channel intended
to facilitate exchanges, partnerships and collaborations between the
educational institutions of the different African countries, UNESCO and other
partners.
The Secretariat wishes to involve a wide
cross-section of African educational institutions and professionals in content
development for this Web site.
Individuals and institutions are invited to submit suitable original
information or material for consideration. Information and material have to be
of a wider regional appeal and related to the priority areas identified by
African Ministers of Education.
Submissions are encouraged in any of the following areas:
- brief reports on important activities or
programmes of African educational institutions and organizations,
including Ministries of Education, national universities, NGOs, local communities,
etc.;
- examples of "best practices" in education (all educational
levels);
- brief accounts of influential national and regional education
meetings;
- summaries or critiques of important education policy documents and
statements;
- education news and information of a wider regional appeal;
- profiles of African programmes and centres of excellence in education;
- noteworthy educational research results;
- profiles of African scholars and famous persons in education.
Information and material may be sent by e-mail or
by post, preferably, on a retrievable medium
(such as a computer diskette or Compact Disc).
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