Preparing national strategies to meet basic learning needs for sustainable development

All countries are encouraged by Agenda 21 to endorse the recommendations of the Jomtien Conference and to strive to ensure its Framework for Action. This would encompass the preparation of national strategies and actions for meeting basic learning needs, universalizing access and promoting equity, broadening the means and scope of education, developing a supporting policy context, mobilizing resources and strengthening international cooperation to redress existing economic, social and gender disparities which interfere with these aims. Agenda 21 further recommends that the important contribution non-governmental organizations can make in designing and implementing educational programmes should be recognized.

This strategy features in the framework of Agenda 21 as formulated at UNCED (Rio de Janeiro, 1992), now coordinated by the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development and implemented through national and local authorities.