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OSCE holds first forum on education development in Bosnia and Herzegovina
SARAJEVO 1 August 2002
SARAJEVO, 1 August 2002 - The first in a series of co-ordination meetings open to all those involved in education in Bosnia and Herzegovina was held today in Sarajevo. As the name implies, the purpose of these Education Forums is to serve as a central meeting point for questions, comments, and discussion among local and international partners in education reform.
Equity and access to education, quality reform and modernization are key areas for the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina in its focus as a co-ordinator for education matters.
"We are faced with a fundamental responsibility - to provide students in Bosnia and Herzegovina with a decent education," said Ambassador Robert Beecroft, OSCE Mission Head. "The OSCE Mission has made its role of co-ordinating and facilitating the development of this consolidated strategy a top priority. We will strive to strengthen our partnerships with the education ministries, and all others involved in education in order to further developing a education strategy, implementing it and monitoring its success."
Today's Education Forum, which was attended by around 100 local and international stakeholders in the country's education sector, introduced the following main focus fields: access to education and non-discrimination; quality and modernization of primary, secondary, higher and vocational education; financing and management of education; and reform of education legislation.
"While there is an awareness of fundamental problems, there is also a readiness - and often eagerness - among local stakeholders to reform and reinvigorate the education system in Bosnia and Herzegovina. In order to achieve lasting reform, we must foster closer partnerships between all international and national interlocutors", said Ambassador Beecroft.
Participants expressed their support for increased efforts by the international community to define a shared strategy, and launched a discussion on how to achieve the goals that will be set. To assist with this and to set a course towards an education system for the country that embodies European standards, working groups in each focus field will be established.
Ambassador Dr. Gerhard Enver Schroembgens, Senior Deputy High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina, noted: "A well managed school and university system that uses effective modern teaching methods to education a new generation is not a luxury but a necessity, if Bosnia and Herzegovina is to compete with its neighbours to attract foreign investment and create a functioning market economy and civil society."
Equity and access to education, quality reform and modernization are key areas for the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina in its focus as a co-ordinator for education matters.
"We are faced with a fundamental responsibility - to provide students in Bosnia and Herzegovina with a decent education," said Ambassador Robert Beecroft, OSCE Mission Head. "The OSCE Mission has made its role of co-ordinating and facilitating the development of this consolidated strategy a top priority. We will strive to strengthen our partnerships with the education ministries, and all others involved in education in order to further developing a education strategy, implementing it and monitoring its success."
Today's Education Forum, which was attended by around 100 local and international stakeholders in the country's education sector, introduced the following main focus fields: access to education and non-discrimination; quality and modernization of primary, secondary, higher and vocational education; financing and management of education; and reform of education legislation.
"While there is an awareness of fundamental problems, there is also a readiness - and often eagerness - among local stakeholders to reform and reinvigorate the education system in Bosnia and Herzegovina. In order to achieve lasting reform, we must foster closer partnerships between all international and national interlocutors", said Ambassador Beecroft.
Participants expressed their support for increased efforts by the international community to define a shared strategy, and launched a discussion on how to achieve the goals that will be set. To assist with this and to set a course towards an education system for the country that embodies European standards, working groups in each focus field will be established.
Ambassador Dr. Gerhard Enver Schroembgens, Senior Deputy High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina, noted: "A well managed school and university system that uses effective modern teaching methods to education a new generation is not a luxury but a necessity, if Bosnia and Herzegovina is to compete with its neighbours to attract foreign investment and create a functioning market economy and civil society."