APPENDIX 1
Memorandum submitted by the Development
Education Association
The Development Education Association (DEA)
welcomes the White Paper on "Eliminating World Poverty: Making
Globalisation Work for the Poor". We believe it is a timely
and valuable publication and that it re-enforces the Government's
commitment to international development and combating global poverty.
The DEA's membership, over 250 organisations,
will find the document to be a useful educational tool. The White
Paper covers virtually all of the key questions that emerge when
NGOs and others are discussing issues within an educational environment.
In its submission to the White Paper, the DEA
highlighted the importance that globalisation was having within
education and the need for international development issues to
be reflected within these debates.
The DEA anticipates that the White Paper will
become an important tool in ensuring that development agendas
are central to broader government discussions on education for
a globalised society.
With regard to the process of consultation around
the White Paper, the DEA organised with the Information Department
of DFID, a valuable and useful seminar that looked at the issues
around globalisation and development education.
Whilst the White Paper at a general level is
an important tool for development educationalists, we are however
disappointed that stronger references and clearer commitments
were not made in the small section on mobilising civil society.
We feel that more could and should have been said about the opportunities
now existing within all sections of education for promoting global
perspectives. There have been important initiatives within lifelong
learning and in the area of citizenship to which more could have
been made. We feel that a stronger commitment could have been
given to ensuring that international development objectives were
promoted within all government policy initiatives within education.
There could also have been a stronger link to government initiatives
on sustainable development education which are being developed
by DETR and DfEE.
The reason we mention these points is because
we believe that whilst there is increasing recognition across
many sections of government that people in society need the appropriate
skills to live and work effectively within the global society,
there is concern by the DEA that all too often the development
agenda is not recognised in these debates. Some statements or
recognition that these need to be addressed would have been valuable.
We therefore see the issues raised in the White
Paper as part of the process of engaging with policy makers in
all sectors of education of the importance of both young and old
understanding globalisation.
Whilst the short version of the White Paper
will be valuable, we hope that DFID will ensure that all key policy
makers involved with education at a national and local level have
copies of the publication and are given some guidance as to where
to go to for follow up support and advice.
Development Education Association
January 2001
Note: The Development Education Association
is the national umbrella body for promoting development education
in the UK. It has over 250 member organisations and receives funding
from three government departments, European Commission, National
Lotteries Charities Board and its members.
departments, European Commission, National Lotteries
Charities Board and its members.
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