OSCE Mission Head urges improvement in education system in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Improving the level, quality and availability of education for BiH citizens is necessary, OSCE Mission Head says. (Lubomir Kotek/OSCE) Photo details
SARAJEVO, 29 August 2002 - State-level, Entity and Cantonal Ministers responsible for educational matters met yesterday to discuss the way forward on issues such as education legislation, the drafting of a strategy paper on education for the November Peace Implementation Council (PIC), and the education of returnee children. Members of the international community's Education Steering Group also participated in the meeting.
"The meeting was held in an open and constructive atmosphere. The will exists to take on the challenges to education reform and overcome remaining differences," said Ambassador Robert M. Beecroft, Head of the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), after the meeting. He commended the Education Ministers for demonstrating goodwill in signing and implementing a number of inter-entity agreements, such as the Interim Agreement on Returnee Children, and a letter of intent to sign the Bologna Declaration on higher education. The Bologna Declaration is a pledge by 29 countries to reform the structures of their higher education systems in a convergent way. The Declaration is a key document which marks a turning point in the development of European higher education.
Ambassador Beecroft emphasized the urgent requirement to improve the level, quality and availability of education for BiH citizens, and underlined the need for BiH citizens and the international community to work together to achieve success. He stressed the need to produce an education strategy paper for the Peace Implementation Council session in Brussels in November, which should define the highest priorities in education and the process and timing for achieving them.
The OSCE Mission Head urged the local authorities to involve themselves actively in setting those goals. "This is our best chance, and it may be our last. I hope we seize this opportunity. I believe we will be judged as negligent by future generations if we do not", he said.
Ambassador Beecroft reminded participants of the imperatives facing those involved in education reform, such as post-accession agreements and obligations towards the Council of Europe, compliance with the Bologna Declaration, and financial difficulties being faced by virtually every education authority in BiH.
The meeting was hosted by the Federation Ministry of Education, and was also attended by the BiH Minister for Human Rights and Refugees in BiH and Brčko District education authorities.
"The meeting was held in an open and constructive atmosphere. The will exists to take on the challenges to education reform and overcome remaining differences," said Ambassador Robert M. Beecroft, Head of the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), after the meeting. He commended the Education Ministers for demonstrating goodwill in signing and implementing a number of inter-entity agreements, such as the Interim Agreement on Returnee Children, and a letter of intent to sign the Bologna Declaration on higher education. The Bologna Declaration is a pledge by 29 countries to reform the structures of their higher education systems in a convergent way. The Declaration is a key document which marks a turning point in the development of European higher education.
Ambassador Beecroft emphasized the urgent requirement to improve the level, quality and availability of education for BiH citizens, and underlined the need for BiH citizens and the international community to work together to achieve success. He stressed the need to produce an education strategy paper for the Peace Implementation Council session in Brussels in November, which should define the highest priorities in education and the process and timing for achieving them.
The OSCE Mission Head urged the local authorities to involve themselves actively in setting those goals. "This is our best chance, and it may be our last. I hope we seize this opportunity. I believe we will be judged as negligent by future generations if we do not", he said.
Ambassador Beecroft reminded participants of the imperatives facing those involved in education reform, such as post-accession agreements and obligations towards the Council of Europe, compliance with the Bologna Declaration, and financial difficulties being faced by virtually every education authority in BiH.
The meeting was hosted by the Federation Ministry of Education, and was also attended by the BiH Minister for Human Rights and Refugees in BiH and Brčko District education authorities.