Preface

This Final Report of the World Conference on Education for All - Meeting Basic Learning Needs was prepared by the Executive Secretariat of the Inter-Agency Commission established by UNDP, UNICEF and the WORLD BANK. In addition to concise summaries of the main proceedings of the Conference, the report contains the integral texts of the two documents adopted by the Conference: the World Declaration on Education for All and the Framework for Action to Meet Basic Learning Needs.

These same texts are available together in a booklet in four language editions: Arabic, English, French and Spanish. They are also available in Chinese and Russian. The official background document, entitled Meeting Basic Learning Needs: a Vision for the 1990s, was revised after the Conference and is available also in these four languages. Both documents, as well as an 18 minute video, "Education for All", may be obtained from any of the four WCEFA Liaison Units indicated on the back cover. Annex D gives more details.

Few international conferences have mobilized so many people in such a short time. This achievement would not have been possible without the cooperation and dedicated efforts of hundreds of people in countries and organisations around the world.

I wish to express my sincere appreciation and acknowledge their contribution to the Education for All initiative, without which the World Conference could not have taken place in such favorable circumstances. Of course the Government of Thailand deserves very special thanks and recognition for accepting to host this major event, for offering various courtesies to the delegations assembled in Jomtien, and for providing the necessary support, services and facilities, including the lovely conference site.

We who had the privilege to meet in Jomtien to deliberate together now have a heavy responsibility to work to implement the principles and to achieve the goals agreed at the conference. Others who subscribe to these principles and goals are encouraged to join us. The Conference demonstrated that providing basic education for all is an attainable goal and that each of us can make a contribution to this worldwide effort.

On behalf of the Inter-Agency Commission, I wish to invite you, the reader, to join us in accepting this important challenge in the spirit of international cooperation and solidarity. Let us work together, building on the momentum of the World Conference, to achieve education for all children, youth and adults, in all countries of our world.

Wadi D. Haddad
Executive Secretary
Inter-Agency Commission
World Conference on Education for All