UNESCO forum endorses youth participation in education policy

Monday, 1 December 2014 00:03 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

UNESCO hosted its World Conference on Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) in Aichi Nagoya, Japan last week, where young leaders from 50 countries drafted a global youth statement to empower and mobilise youth from all over the world. Sri Lanka was represented at the forum by Kishor Hameed, who presented the Youth Statement to the Minister of Education Bandula Gunawardane, at the Ministry yesterday. The statement proposes to drive a number of key initiatives in education, which include the active involvement of youth in policy, planning, implementation and evaluation, streamline policies to become sustainable and gender responsive and for all stakeholders to allocate resources to empower youth as change agents for sustainable education. A number of recommendations were also made to draw institutional support, enhance education channels and trainers, innovative learning streams, local community activation and reaching out to marginalised groups.

Sri Lanka’s Kishor Hameed, a corporate professional cum social activist, was chosen from amongst 5,000 other applicants across the world to participate at this prestigious forum. The youth conference which was held in Okayama, provided a forum to share ideas and experiences to promote the ESD movement across young people globally. During the world conference, sustainable development goals for the future were announced with education and sustainable development related strategies were presented. Commenting on the conference Minister of Education Bandula Gunewardena said: “The Youth Statement is a welcome initiative as it provides educationists and authorities around the world a common platform to drive a development and learning agenda. The youth are a key stakeholder in the growth and development of education and all sectors in a nation, and I look forward to working closely with all stakeholders in promoting sustainable growth.” Sri Lanka’s representative, Kishor Hameed, said, “It was a privilege and an honour to be part of this global conference, where we have the opportunity collectively to shape the future of education and youth empowerment. By following up with the stakeholders concerned such as civil society, academics and policy making bodies in the country, we will work towards advancing ESD in Sri Lanka, to give opportunity and impart skills training to youth so they become self-reliant and partners to development.” The conference celebrated the achievements during the decade in youth empowerment and sustainable development education from all over the world, and helps to generate future action under the UNESCO Global Action Programme.