VZCZCXYZ0000
RR RUEHWEB
DE RUEHTO #1294/01 3101548
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 061548Z NOV 07
FM AMEMBASSY MAPUTO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 8170
INFO RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
UNCLAS MAPUTO 001294
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV SOCI PREL MZ
SUBJECT: GRM FOLLOW-UP TO THE WHITE HOUSE CONFERENCE ON
GLOBAL LITERACY
REF: STATE 118971
1. In response to the invitation from First Lady Laura Bush
to participate in a literacy luncheon in New York on the
margins of UNGA (reftel), Mozambican First Lady Ana Guebuza
directed Minister of Education Aires Ali to write a letter to
the U.S. National Committee for UNESCO, providing an update
on Mozambique's efforts after the White House conference on
Global Literacy.
2. Begin letter text:
REPUBLIC OF MOZAMBIQUE
MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND CULTURE
OFFICE OF THE MINISTER
Letter no. 1744/GM/MEC/07
It is with pleasure that we share the progress and
experiences following the White House Conference on Global
Literacy organized by the First Lady of the United States,
Laura Bush. This fact increases our responsibility and
encourages us to vigorously continue our fight against
illiteracy in our country, continent and the world in general.
We can inform you that the participation of Mozambique in the
White House Conference was preceded by two events worth
mentioning: the launch of the Movement for Advocacy,
Awareness and Mobilization of Resources towards Literacy and
the launch of the II Decade of Education for Africa that took
place in Maputo. This coincidence became the galvanizing
force behind the initiatives that Mozambique has been
developing, guided by its Five-year Program and absolute
poverty reduction program (PARPA), based on the principles of
participation and partnership between the Government and
non-governmental institutions and civil society.
In fact, after the White House Conference, the following took
place:
-- Draft of the National Action Plan of the Movement, aimed
at promoting the participation of more partners in the
implementation of the Literacy and Education of Adults and
Non-Formal Education programs; reinforce the will and
political commitment for program support, mobilize human
resources and operational infrastructures; facilitate
dialogue between different players, disseminate and share
information, promote good practices to create national
momentum, comprised of diverse partnerships and mobilized
management of resources, adapting them to the fulfillment of
the goals of literacy and education of adults and challenges
of the Decade.
-- Promotion of the expansion of the initiative "Family
Without Illiteracy" as an alternative to the minute financial
resources, mobilizing and raising awareness among Primary and
Secondary School students, so that they can teach their
parents, brothers/sisters, grandparents to read and write, in
their homes, with the pedagogical support of their teachers
and the control of the schools' management.
-- Promotion of literacy of the members of district
consultation counsels, in the context of Good Governance,
Decentralization, and Community Development. Currently, the
Government of Mozambique defines the District as a center of
development, and therefore makes it a priority to build
capacity and provide power to the local leaders, as honorable
representatives of the desires and hopes of the communities.
As far as the interaction of Mozambique with the other
participants in the Conference, a delegation participated in
the Africa Regional Conference that took place in Bamako,
Mali, September 10-12, 2007. Mozambique was represented in
this event by H. E. the First Lady of the Republic and H.E.
the Vice-Minister of Finance. The country had the pleasure
of sharing our innovative and creative experiences resulting
from some of the ongoing initiatives.
In regards to what recent actions will impact literacy, we
can again highlight Mozambique's "Family Without Illiteracy"
initiative, the promotion of literacy to members of the
district consultation counsels, and income management
programs (organic garden, improved house building with
stabilized blocks and management of small businesses).
Maputo, September 13, 2007
/s/
AIRES BONIFACIO BAPTISTA ALI
MINISTER OF EDUCATION AND CULTURE
H.E. Ms. Susanna Connaughton, Executive Director of the
United States National Committee for UNESCO
Cc: Office of the Spouse of the President of the Republic
H.E. The Representative of UNESCO-Maputo
End letter text.
Chapman