Baku to host UNESCO conference on problems of literacy and education among adults

Day.Az reports with reference to the website of the organizer-UNESCO that the arrangement will be attended by high ranking state officials and specialists from 30 countries, as well as representatives of the world society.

UNESCO states that raising literacy level is a key stage in building informed communities and strengthening economic competitiveness. According to the organization, literacy among European population exceeds 96%. Meanwhile, significant gap is observed between the countries of this region. Thus, the world report on monitoring of education for everyone of 2008 states that 9 mln adults in Central and Eastern Europe can neither read nor write.

Despite the prevailing idea the problem of law level of literacy in Europe refers not only to minority representatives but also to overall society.

In line with International Adult Literacy Survey of 2000 held in 20 developed countries, the illiteracy level in such countries, as Germany and Slovenia is twice as high among the low  educated people as among people with satisfactory or good level of literacy.

An expanded concept of literacy in the present-day world is a subject of one of the round tables, arranged in the framework of a conference in Baku. The remaining round tables will be devoted to the following subjects: changing levels of literacy, pedagogical approaches to development of quality basic education, as well as answers to new demands via legislative and institutional innovations.

Over 200 participants including first ladies, ministers of education, state officials, representatives of civil society, nongovernmental organizational and academic circles, specialists in the sphere of education, members of bilateral and multilateral organizations will consider main problems of spreading literacy in the subregion and methods of their settlement. A number of practical recomendations, considering features of each of the subregional countries, in particular, regarding employment, public health, stable development and civil rights will be proposed upon the completion of the session. Moreover effective programs will be presented during the conference.

UNESCO general manager Koitiro Matsuura, first lady of Azerbaijan, UNESCO goodwill ambassador Mehriban Aliyev and several other first ladies from the subregional countries will deliver speeches at the conference opening.

The conference will open in the Gulistan palace at 16:00 on May 14 and will held under the austices of first lady of Azerbaijan, UNESCO goodwill ambassador Mehriban Aliyeva and Heydar Aliyev's foundation.

/Day.Az/