Select Committee on International Development Appendices to the Minutes of Evidence


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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