BY EMMANUEL EDUKUGHO & HOPE IGBARUMA

Education is the largest programme of all as UNESCO holds its 36th General Conference (October 25-November 10) in Paris, France, which will determine UNESCO’s work, policies and fix its programmes and budget for 2012-2013.

Education therefore presents specific challenges of which the major one is to ensure a more coordinated approach in working towards the Education For All (EFA) goals for the 2015 deadline and beyond.

A new architecture of the global EFA coordination mechanism is expected to allow for UNESCO to take the lead in coordinating efforts among the numerous stakeholders in the Education For All (EFA) movement, including UNESCO member states, the five EFA convening agencies, civil society and the private sector.

The second challenge is the balancing act of ensuring a holistic vision of education while focusing on particular thematic areas especially in times of financial constraint.

UNESCO promotes holistic approach to education systems that require quality teacher training and management , strong higher education system including development of curricula to nurture global citizenship, coherent policies and the promotion of education outside schools.

However, in difficult financial situations, the challenge is to ensure that UNESCO continues to work in all relevant areas while focusing on particular areas for greater impact .

Education For All (EFA) Goals are six internationally agreed goals aimed at meeting the learning needs of all children, youth and adults by 2015. These goals are as follows:

•Expand and improve comprehensive early childhood care and education, especially for the most vulnerable and disadvantaged children.

•Expand and improve comprehensive early childhood care and education, especially for the most vulnerable and disadvantaged children.

•Ensure that by 2015 all children, particularly girls, those in difficult circumstances, and those belonging to ethnic minorities, have access to and complete, free, and compulsory primary education of good quality.

•Ensure that the learning needs of all young people and adults are met through equitable access to appropriate learning and life-skills programmes.

•Achieve a 50 % improvement in adult literacy by 2015, especially for women, and equitable access to basic and continuing education for all adults.

•Eliminate gender disparities in primary and secondary education by 2005, and achieve gender equality in education by 2015, with a focus on ensuring girls’ full and equal access to and achievement in basic education of good quality.

•Improve all aspects of the quality of education and ensure the excellence of all so that recognized and measurable learning outcomes are achieved by all, especially in literacy, numeracy and essential life skills.

The five Education For All (EFA) convening agencies include United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), United Nations Funds For Population Activities (UNFPA), United Nations International Children Emergency Fund (UNICEF) and World Bank.