Development goals in education will be focus for education ministers meeting in Malaysia

Commonwealth education ministers and senior officials will meet in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, from 15 to 19 June 2009 for their triennial conference – the largest and most important meeting in the Commonwealth education calendar.

The theme for the 17th Conference of Commonwealth Education Ministers (17CCEM) is ‘Education in the Commonwealth: Towards and Beyond Global Goals and Targets’.

The broad theme for 2009 looks at education in the Commonwealth, and its work towards achieving the Education for All and the Millennium Development Goals. But it also looks beyond these goals in preparation for education in the Commonwealth after 2015.

Commonwealth Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma said: “Achievement of global education goals will depend on progress made in the Commonwealth. Worldwide, around 73 million children never even go to primary school, and the majority of these are girls.

“Although significant progress has been made, global and national inequalities persist. Governments need to tackle these inequalities, and donors need to meet their commitments.”

The meeting - which includes parallel forums for teachers, ‘stakeholders’ (civil society, business, and others), university vice-chancellors and young people - is expected to attract some 800 delegates from all over the Commonwealth.

This year also marks 50 years since education ministers first met in Oxford, UK, recognising half a century of co-operation between member states on key educational issues.

The keynote speaker for the ministerial meeting will be Nahas Angula, Prime Minister of Namibia.

The winners of the 2009 Commonwealth Education Good Practice Awards will be announced on Tuesday, 16 June. These awards recognise outstanding educational work that has made a positive difference to primary school children, their teachers or the education system of a country.

Secretariat Links:

• Country Profile: Malaysia
• Education

Related Websites:

• 17CCEM