ISLAMABAD – Minister for Federal Education and Professional TrainingShafqat Mahmood was on Thursday unanimously elected as President ofUNESCO’s prestigious Education Commission at the United NationsEducational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) headquarter inParis.
While commenting upon his election, the minister termed it as an honourfor Pakistan and an acknowledgement of Pakistan’s commitment to UNESCO’swork in the field of education, a message received here from France said.
The minister said being the president of UNESCO’s Education Commission, hewould work closely with all delegations in a constructive manner inpursuance of UNESCO’s objectives to build peace through internationalcooperation in education, sciences and culture and to achieve UNSustainable Development Goals defined in Agenda 2030.
With Pakistan in the chair, the Education Commission would take up a heavyagenda deliberating on UNESCO’s future strategy and programmes forliteracy, global/regional coordination for the implementation of SDG 4–Education 2030, ways and means to move towards a global classificationframework for teacher policy dialogue besides finalizing the draft text ofthe Global convention on the recognition of higher education qualifications.
Since his arrival in Paris on Monday, the minister had a hectic schedulerepresenting Pakistan at the Paris Peace Forum and as well as UNESCOGeneral Conference. He was hosted by the Chinese Minister for Education foran exclusive lunch.
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The minister separately held bilateral meetings with ministers of educationof Bangladesh, Norway and Tunisia and also met assistant director generalsof UNESCO for Education and Culture.
During the meetings, he stressed the need for greater cooperation atbilateral and international level to ensure access to education to allschool going children and to bring about quantum improvement in the highereducation sector.
