Kuala Lumpur on target to host education conference

Preparations for the 17th Conference of Commonwealth Education Ministers (17CCEM) in Malaysia’s capital Kuala Lumpur in June 2009 are under way for what is likely to be the biggest ever meeting of its kind since the first CCEM was held in Oxford, UK, in 1959.

This year’s anniversary conference is being organised by the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Higher Education, Malaysia, and the Commonwealth Secretariat. Other planning partners include the Commonwealth Foundation, the Commonwealth of Learning, the Association of Commonwealth Universities, the Commonwealth Teachers Group, and Nexus Strategic Partnerships Ltd.

CCEM takes place every three years. The 16CCEM was attended by 1,200 stakeholders and it is anticipated that this year, with the inclusion of a Vice-Chancellors’ Forum, participation will reach 1,500.

The theme of the 17CCEM is ‘Education in the Commonwealth: Towards and Beyond Global Goals and Targets’ and this will enable participants to consider the achievements with regard to the global education goals, namely the Millennium Development Goals in Education, and Education for All. The conference will also seek to look beyond these targets in preparation, both in terms of their scope and with regard to the 2015 target date.

Alongside the ministerial meeting, four forums will take place which will serve to facilitate interaction around the key themes between civil society, teachers, vice-chancellors and youth.

These parallel forums aim to bring together representatives from national and international agencies, experts, academics, teachers, NGOs, youth and the private sector engaged in education at all levels of the Commonwealth.

At the heart of the conference, the 'Commonwealth Education Showcase' will include over 200 exhibition stands, allowing governments, education institutions, NGOs and businesses from all corners of the Commonwealth to showcase their policies, projects and products to the delegates of 17CCEM. The Showcase will also provide a central venue for delegates to eat, network and access the internet.

A planning mission to Malaysia at the beginning of January 2009 included a visit to the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, where the conference will take place, as well as meetings in Malacca, a UNESCO world heritage centre. It is here that a ‘home stay’ experience for Commonwealth youth has been planned by the Malaysian Government and youth groups prior to their participation in the Youth Forum of the Conference.

Dr Henry Kaluba, Head of Education at the Commonwealth Secretariat, talked of how he was looking forward to 17CCEM. “It is a historic meeting for the Commonwealth and for educators across the world, and a unique opportunity for different people committed to strengthening education in the Commonwealth to share ideas and build on agreements.”

The conference website is due to be launched at the end of this month.

Secretariat Links:

• Education
• Country Profile: Malaysia