Education and training schemes in developing countries

OBJECTIVE: in this document, the Commission: . summarizes the systems of education and training in developing countries; . illustrates the role of education in human development; . highlights, in line with the principles adopted at international level, the absolute priority of basic education, the advisability of a long-term commitment to support education systems in developing countries and the need to support the programming, management and reform of these systems. CONTENT: according to this document, strategies for supporting education and training in developing countries must be specific to each country and development cooperation can only help by taking a differentiated approach, country by country. The communication therefore lists the principles and priorities which need to be used as reference points to guide this cooperation: . improving the "quality" of education as well as the "quantity"; . increasing the supply of vocational training linked to employment; . improving the chances of education for disadvantaged groups. The target areas of intervention are basic education, secondary and post-secondary education, teacher training and vocational, technical and university training. The Commission also stresses the need for exchanges of information country by country, based on complementarity between the Community and the Member States. It suggests that experts should meet regularly, that annual reports should be drafted on how this coordination is progressing and that there should be increased consultation with important providers of funds for education and training in developing countries.�