“The Most Exalting Venture”

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31208, 4 November 1966, Page 12

“The Most Exalting Venture”

Twenty years ago today the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organisation was established. The anniversary of the organisation, in which New Zealand has played its full part from the beginning, is an occasion to review the achievements of UNESCO and to assess the work which lies ahead of it. An estimated 750 million adult illiterates in the world—more than ever before —reflect the trend In world population rather than any increase in the rate of illiteracy. But the fact that more than two out of every five adults cannot read or write is startling evidence of the need for UNESCO’s current drive against illiteracy. Most developing countries are making efforts to educate adults as well as children; and UNESCO is the main vehicle for helping these countries in “ the most exalting venture of our “ generation ”, to quote from Mr R. Maheu, director-general of UNESCO.

UNESCO is forced by limitations of finance and manpower to be selective in this aid. Last year it approved three “ literacy pilot projects in Algeria, Iran, and Mali. A brief outline of one of these schemes will serve to illustrate the scope of the projects. Algeria’s population of 12 million includes 14 million illiterate children and million illiterate adults. Primary schooling is being expanded as fast as classrooms can be built—many of them by voluntary labour—teachers enlisted, and classes started. The authorities are confident that within a few years primary education will be available in all regions and every Algerian child will be able to read and write. Adult illiteracy poses more complex problems. Four out of every five Algerians in the productive age group—from 15 to 44 years—are illiterate, and literacy is the first requirement for training for most occupations. A combined programme of educational and technical training has been launched in Algeria for these adult illiterates, but progress here will necessarily be slower than in juvenile education. The elimination of illiteracy in Algeria and other under-developed countries will be the first step towards providing a decent standard of living. New Zealand’s support of such campaigns is demonstrated by its regular contributions of money and training facilities for UNESCO programmes. New Zealand pays some £300,000 a year to the United Nations specialised agencies, of which about one quarter goes to UNESCO. Money spent on such campaigns is surely one of New Zealand’s best humanitarian gestures—and one of our best hopes of securing international peace.