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(1)
(2)
Improving the Quality of Basic Education
The unprecedented expansion of education over the past 25 years means that in most Commonwealth countries at least 80 per cent or more of children are now being schooled. With the success of universal primary education programmes, the attention of many governments is shifting in formal education to qualitative improvement of schools; this need not of course imply a diminution of concern for the quantitative side
side of education provision, since one key index of the quality of an education system is the degree of access to learning opportunities that the system offers. The convening of the World Conference on Education for All in Thailand in March 1990 underlines the continuing importance attached by the international community to access to good quality education at basic level. In non-formal education, which is naturally attracting special attention in International Literacy Year, there is concern to deliver effective learning opportunities to
opportunities to out-of-school children, youth and adults.
Reflecting these
concerns of Commonwealth Ministers of Education, it is proposed
proposed that the Barbados Conference's main theme should allow Ministers to exchange views and experience on the components of quality education, and pathways to achieving it. It is anticipated that Ministers may want
to discuss very practical issues associated with quality, including teacher education and professional support services for teachers, curriculum and assessment, provision of materials and books, management for change including monitoring and information systems, school and community relations and allocation of resources. It is suggested that for working purposes in Barbados the term 'basic education' should embrace primary and lower secondary education (and programmes of equivalent level out-of-school education); though it is recognised that in several countries there is universal provision up to the end of the secondary cycle.
in
Commonwealth Higher Education Co-operation and Student Mobility
The Commonwealth Standing Committee on Student Mobility and Higher Education Co-operation was
Co-operation was mandated by Ministers at the Tenth Conference in Nairobi (1987) to look at possibilities for supporting and encouraging developing Commonwealth universities and colleges. Το meet urgent needs throughout the developing world, the Committee has
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