Inter-Regional Seminar on Elimination of Discrimination in Education
Iran, Tehran, Shahid Beheshti University, 24 February, 2013
Providing access to quality and equal education for all is considered to be an essential step to the formation of the knowledge-based societies. Therefore, improvement of all the aspects of the right to education, as one of the substantial objectives of the education for all programs, which recognizes the right of access to equal educational opportunities for all in elementary, secondary and higher education, is the first step to eliminate discrimination in education. These includes the determination of the challenges, development of capacities, improvement of national and regional planning process and strengthen of monitoring and evaluation mechanisms.
Regarding the aims of UNESCO toward institutionalization of cooperation among the nations to promote respect for human rights and equalization of educational opportunities and free transfer of educational and scientific information, also considering the existing challenges in access to educational and scientific opportunities on the grounds of political, linguistic and ethnic origins which lead to discrimination in education or impossibility of joint educational and scientific activities and difficulty in free transfer of information of between the North/South, Shahid Beheshti University, in cooperation with UNESCO National Committee for Higher Education and National Committee for Education for Sustainable Development in Iran, UNESCO, UNESCO Chair for Human Rights, Peace and Democracy, Ministry of Science, Research and Technology, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Health and Medical Education, in order to improve understanding on worldwide challenges of the right to education and to determine effective policies to obviate them, considers to hold Inter-Regional Seminar on Elimination of Discrimination in Education on 24, Feb., 2013,Tehran, Iran.
Objectives
to increase and diffuse of knowledge among the participants about various aspects of discrimination in education
to provide ground for discussion and idea exchange about the obstacles and challenges of equalization of educational opportunities worldwide and to present solutions for the existing problems
to evaluate the present status to eliminate discrimination in education worldwide
to recognize the mechanisms for elimination of discrimination in education and to contribute to their full implementation
to boost international and regional cooperation to take concerted policies and measures for equalization of educational opportunities
Topics
The concept of discrimination and equality in education
Understanding of various dimensions and aspects of discrimination in education worldwide
Challenges to equalization of educational opportunities worldwide
The role of policy-making and regulatory bodies in action against discrimination in education
National and regional experiences against discrimination in education
A review on international instruments and obligations to eliminate discrimination in education
The role of civil institutions (NGOs, scientific associations and community and religious leaders)in promotion of equal opportunities in access to education
Prohibition of educational discrimination from the perspective of Islamic teachings
Prospects
To build capacity for formation of equal educational opportunities worldwide
To increase and diffuse of knowledge and awareness among policy makers, legislators and experts about various dimensions of discrimination in education
To recognize challenges and effective mechanisms for elimination of educational discrimination
To codify an operational strategy for development and promotion of the action against discrimination in education
To boost international and regional communication and cooperation against diverse forms of discrimination in education
Participants
The participants at the seminar from Asia-Pacific region, Arab Countries and North Africa are included as follows
NGOs active in education sector
UNESCO Chairs for Human Rights Education, Peace and Democracy in American and Asia-Pacific regions
Policy-makers and educational planning administrative authorities
Academic experts and researchers
Representatives of the concerned Ministries with responsibilities in field of education
Experts and authorities of UNESCO
Seminar Fees
The Seminar Organizers will cover the costs of economy round-trip air ticket, accommodation, subsistence and transportation on arrival and departure for whom their paper accepted by the Scientific Council of the Seminar. For representatives and experts from other countries, only the costs of accommodation, subsistence and transpiration will be covered. All other expenses, including round-trip air ticket will have to be covered by the participants.
Organizer
Shahid Beheshti University in collaboration with UNESCO Chair for Human Rights, Peace and Democracy
Co-organizers
Ministry of Science, Research and Technology
Ministry of Education
Ministry of Health and Medical Education